Trending Now - Bungie Plans Patch to Address Marathon Monetization Issues

WHO:

Bungie, the developer of Marathon

Players of Marathon

WHAT:

Marathon peaked at 88,000 concurrent players on Steam at launch.

Player count declined from 78,000 on Saturday, March 7th, 2026, to 73,000 on Sunday, March 8th, 2026.

Bungie announced an adjustment to the in-game currency, LUX, increasing the amount received for $10 from 1,100 to 1,120 LUX.

Players who purchased LUX bundles before the change will be credited the appropriate amount of in-game currency.

Upcoming patch will increase the distance objective nav points appear from 10 meters to 20 meters.

The number of Med Cabinets and Munitions Crates that can spawn on Perimeter will be increased.

The amount of starting ammo in MIDA, CyberAcme, and Arachne free Sponsored Kits will be increased.

WHERE:

Marathon is available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.

WHEN:

The patch is scheduled for release on March 14th, 2026.

Players will receive 150 LUX for issues experienced during the first few hours of launch by March 7th, 2026, at 9 AM PT.

WHY:

Bungie aims to maintain existing players and attract new ones due to declining player numbers.

The adjustments to LUX and gameplay difficulty are in response to player feedback regarding microtransactions and game difficulty.

HOW:

Bungie is revising its approach to in-game currency and preparing a patch to address player concerns.

(UPDATED March 9, 2026 01:23 UTC)

Marathon, developed by Bungie, saw an impressive peak of 88,000 concurrent players on Steam at launch, but that number has since dropped to 73,000 following a decline over the weekend. In response to player feedback, Bungie announced an increase in the in-game currency LUX for $10 purchases and is set to release a patch on March 14 that will enhance gameplay by adjusting navigation point distances and increasing the spawn rate of Med Cabinets and Munitions Crates. Additionally, players who experienced issues during the game's early hours will receive compensation of 150 LUX, as Bungie aims to retain its current player base while attracting new gamers.