“This is not a game that is about to face some sort of imminent shutdown” - Marathon reportedly had a budget of $200m, and while player numbers are dipping, team morale remains good
Marathon, Bungie’s live-service shooter, reportedly had a development budget exceeding $200 million, with estimates reaching over $250 million when excluding post-launch development costs. According to a Forbes report by Paul Tassi, sources familiar with the project confirmed this figure, aligning with prior industry analyst estimates.
Despite the significant investment, the game has experienced notable player decline. Peak concurrent player numbers on Steam have dropped approximately 68 percent since launch, with analysis confirming that over 70 percent of the playerbase was concentrated on Steam. The steep decline raises questions about the live-service title’s long-term viability.
However, positive signals emerge from within the studio: Bungie’s team morale remains strong despite the challenges, and the company has directly addressed rumors suggesting an imminent shutdown. The situation reflects broader challenges facing even well-funded live-service games in a competitive market where player retention has become increasingly difficult.