Destiny Fans Strike Back Against Marathon Review Bombing
The backlash is real, but the counterattack is stronger. Destiny players have flooded the Marathon Steam page with negative reviews following the announcement that Bungie is shifting its focus to its new sci-fi shooter. However, the studio’s loyal community has quickly organized a countercampaign to defend the title and demonstrate its viability.
This digital skirmish erupted after Bungie confirmed that the final Destiny 2 content update would launch this June. With no Destiny 3 in sight, speculation grew that the studio would end the 12-year-old franchise to redirect resources toward Marathon, its recently launched extraction-shooter revival.
The Wave of Negative Reviews
Disappointment manifested rapidly on the Marathon Steam store page, where users began leaving negative reviews explicitly linking their frustration to the fate of Destiny 2. Many of these reviews came from players with minimal playtime, ranging from under an hour to around 50 hours, yet they felt entitled to comment on the broader industry shift.
The sentiment was clear and bitter. One highly upvoted review from an unhappy fan stated:
"You killed my favorite game for this... My only regret was supporting this trash in the hope that Destiny would continue. RIP D2."
This reaction highlights a recurring issue on PC storefronts. Disgruntled users often use Steam review-bombing as a method to voice concerns about corporate decisions, hoping to pressure developers or signal dissatisfaction to the industry at large.
The Community Fights Back
True to form for the gaming community, the response was swift. Marathon players organized a coordinated effort to leave positive reviews, effectively neutralizing the damage of the review bombing.
Data from Steam shows that the countercampaign was highly successful. On May 22, 2026, the day the negativity peaked, 531 reviews were published for Marathon:
- 70% Positive: 374 reviews
- 30% Negative: 157 reviews
For context, on May 20, the day before the Destiny announcement, the game had received only 49 positive and six negative reviews. The surge in positive sentiment demonstrates that the core player base remains supportive despite the controversy.
The Future of Bungie’s Slate
The tension between these two franchises was also evident on Reddit. A popular post on the Marathon subreddit, published after the end of Destiny support, acknowledged the inevitable backlash. The author wrote, "Sad but true," urging fans to leave positive reviews in anticipation of the incoming negative wave.
Comments from the community revealed a nuanced understanding of Bungie’s strategy. Many players recognize the financial reality of game development, suggesting that the success of Marathon is directly tied to the potential future of Destiny.
"It's ironic because the only road to seeing a D3 is if [Marathon] manages to survive," one user replied. "If Marathon dies an early death, so does Bungie."
Another fan added, "As someone who loves both games, it’s just sad to see how spiteful people can be. I’ll never understand."
A Pivotal Moment for Bungie
Destiny originally launched in 2014, followed by Destiny 2 in 2017. Until Bungie shares more details, the final major update for the series is scheduled for June.
Marathon launched on March 5, 2026, offering a different take on sci-fi shooting. Despite receiving strong critical acclaim—including a 9/10 from IGN—and initial fan support, reports suggest it failed to meet immediate commercial expectations.
Bungie maintains that it still has ambitious plans for Marathon’s future. Recent updates have promised more PvE content and a long-term narrative arc for the story. Whether this shift will satisfy the Destiny fanbase or alienate them further remains to be seen, but the current Steam metrics suggest that the dedication to Bungie’s new IP is far from dead.
