Marathon Topped March Sales Charts Despite 70% Refund Rate

Bungie’s extraction shooter Marathon made waves by landing among the best-selling games of March 2026, as noted in PC Gamer’s sales tracking report. However, the impressive sales figure has a significant catch. The game sold around 1.2 million copies at launch, but an estimated 70% refund rate indicates that many of those sales were reversed during Steam’s refund period.

The refund rate is what really stands out. A 70% refund rate means Bungie probably kept revenue from fewer than 400,000 players out of the initial 1.2 million. Given the game’s price of $31.99, they might have realized a maximum gross of about $12.8 million before platform fees. That’s a tough number to swallow for a game that took years of development resources after Destiny.

Despite the refund situation, the sales chart position still holds some weight. Achieving top seller status for the month, despite the negative buzz, shows that strong pre-launch marketing turned curiosity into purchases. Unfortunately, that interest didn’t last once players experienced the game. The high refund rate signals that the game didn’t live up to the expectations set by its promotional material.

Wccftech has reported rumors suggesting that Bungie currently lacks marketing plans for future content, raising concerns about potential delays or major changes. This aligns with the current Steam player count of 15,456, which reflects the audience that remained just three to four weeks after launch. Growing this number will be tough without a clear content plan to guide players.

The 88% positive Steam review score based on 36,005 reviews seems at odds with the refund data until you consider selection bias. Those reviews come from players who kept the game. Meanwhile, the potential 840,000 who refunded it didn’t leave any feedback. So, the actual satisfaction rate among all purchasers is probably much lower than 88%.

By The Numbers

Launch Sales (Gross)	~1.2 million copies
Estimated Refund Rate	~70%
Current Steam Players	15,456
Steam Review Score	88% positive (36,005 reviews)
Current Price (Steam)	$31.99

The community’s sentiment among players who chose to stick with the game remains sharp. A Steam reviewer who kept their copy noted: “maybe check back around for Season 2 or 3, but I wouldn’t hold your breath. This game right now is all of the ‘late-in-life-Destiny-2’ Bungie and none of the ‘Halo 2 or 3’ Bungie.” This perspective highlights the contrast between Bungie’s creative peak and its recent downturn, explaining why expectations were so high and why the disappointment feels so pronounced.

What To Watch

• Bungie’s content roadmap: With no confirmed marketing plans for upcoming seasons, keep an eye out for any announcements regarding a Season 2 date or content delays. Either development will influence whether the retained player base holds steady or shrinks further.
• Monthly sales tracking: Marathon made it onto March’s charts thanks to its launch momentum. Its performance in April and May will reveal if any positive word-of-mouth or patches have revived purchase interest or if the refund narrative has permanently harmed sales.
• Player count trajectory: With 15,456 concurrent players, Marathon needs to establish a stable player base before claiming any recovery. PC Gamer’s ongoing coverage and Steam’s charts will be key indicators of whether Bungie’s adjustments are taking effect.