A former lead from Marathon and Valorant, who has played about 3,400 hours of Path of Exile, claims it provides the most flexible buildcrafting experience of any ARPG. GamesRadar shared these insights on October 19, 2026.
The developer emphasizes the game’s extensive options. “The level of experimentation you can get in that game is so wide in how you can make builds,” he stated, according to the GamesRadar summary.
His playtime adds credibility to his opinion. GamesRadar reports it as 3,400 hours, while a Tech Insider headline suggests 3,437 hours. Regardless, that’s over 140 full days immersed in the game’s build systems.
This praise comes at a tricky time for his previous project. Marathon, Bungie’s extraction shooter, launched on March 5, 2026, priced at $39.99 on Steam. It currently holds a 79% positive rating based on 49,631 reviews, a decent score but with a limited active player base.
Currently, our data shows 2,614 concurrent players on Steam. Explosion’s earlier report on October 18 noted 1,581 players and made comparisons to Concord. Keep in mind these two figures come from different time frames, so consider them more of a range than a trend.
The Tech Insider article also mentions that the director acknowledged some clashes. We haven’t independently confirmed this context, and the available information doesn’t specify the nature of those disagreements.
| Path of Exile hours logged by ex-Marathon lead | 3,400+ (3,437 per Tech Insider) |
| Marathon release date | March 5, 2026 |
| Marathon Steam price | $39.99 |
| Marathon Steam reviews | 79% positive (49,631 reviews) |
| Marathon current Steam players | 2,614 |
Community Pulse
The remaining player base of Marathon appears mostly positive, with sentiment across 10 tracked signals showing favorable responses. One Steam reviewer remarked, “The best gunplay and sound design I’ve ever experienced in a game hands down. Incredible world and aesthetic that feels genuinely different than everything else out there.” This compliments the immediate gameplay feel and art direction, rather than focusing on long-term progression or build variety, which the former lead credits to Path of Exile.
What To Watch
- Marathon’s player count: The fluctuation from 1,581 to 2,614 across different snapshots indicates volatility. A steady increase or decrease will provide more insight than any single measurement.
- More from the ex-lead: The Tech Insider article highlights clashes during development. A more comprehensive account could shed light on the decisions made in Marathon’s design.
- Build depth in extraction shooters: If Marathon’s developers engage with the buildcrafting discussion, keep an eye out for adjustments to loadout and progression systems.
Alex Mercer
Alex Mercer is the Gaming News Editor at Explosion.com with over 8 years of experience covering the gaming industry. He previously wrote for several gaming publications and has attended E3, Gamescom, and The Game Awards as press. Alex specializes in breaking news coverage, studio analysis, and tracking industry trends. When not writing, he's grinding ranked matches in Valorant or exploring the latest RPG releases.
