ARC Raiders' player count decline is good news for Bungie Marathon.

ARC Raiders It turns out to be one of the biggest games of 2025. This makes a lot of sense considering titles like: Ghost of Yotei, death stranding 2, Battlefield 6and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 It was released in the same year. before ARC Raiders As they entered the scene, extraction shooters were a more niche genre. Now they could be the next big thing.

Escape from Tarkov It's been a popular extraction shooter for a long time, but its notorious learning curve and high challenge level have prevented it from appealing to a wide audience. ARC RaidersOn the other hand, it made the genre much more accessible. The sci-fi inspired post-apocalyptic extraction shooter has resonated with many gamers and has posted some truly impressive numbers. However, that number of players declined from day one of launch. The game is one of the most popular shooters out there right now, but this drop in players could be a telling moment for it to get a chance at its biggest competition. marathon.

With the ARC Raiders' player count starting to stabilize, Marathon is waiting in the corner ready to rush.

marathon's story is one full of highs and lows. After it was announced in 2023, there was a long silence. But in April 2025, things changed. Developer Bungie released a visually stunning trailer directed by Alberto Mielgo that quickly created a stir across the internet. Although there was a lot of positive feedback regarding the game's art direction, some were skeptical about the game as a whole. Bungie said a closed alpha test will take place between April 23 and May 4 to ensure the game is satisfactory before its September 2025 debut. This will be the first big hiccup marathonRoad to launch.

Rearranges covers into correct US release order.

Easy (5)Medium (7)Difficult (10)

Marathon and Bungy's Rough 2025

After the alpha test, participants were disappointed. This led Bungie to decide to postpone the game indefinitely. That wasn't the only problem marathon However, we are faced with April-May 2025. Last May, artist Antireal accused Bungie of plagiarizing and repurposing his work. marathon's design. Bungie eventually confirmed their claims, revealing that a former artist who worked at the studio had included Antireal's design without the rest of the team knowing. It was a one-two punch of bad press. marathon In a cloud of skepticism. that marathon The art controversy was eventually resolved, but Bungie remained tight-lipped about when a new release date was planned. That silence was finally broken this year.

On January 19th, Bungie revealed: marathonNew release date: March 5, 2026. There are only a few weeks left until release date. marathon fire, ARC Raiders When that day comes, you may need to be on guard.

ARC Raiders have lost a lot of players since their launch in October.

ARC Raiders' Steam's all-time high player count was 481,966 on November 16, 2025.
As of this writing, there are 206,424 players on Steam.

To be clear, a lower player count is still a killable number in most games. ARC Raiders We've been able to maintain a consistent player base incredibly well. Consistency is actually the ultimate key to longevity. marathon It's looming as the first real competitor in this space. Once the game is released, it will be impossible not to compare it. ARC Raiders and marathon. Both games have the opportunity to spark a new rivalry between equals. call of duty big battlefield if marathon We deliver.

By the end of February, the ARC Raiders and the Marathon are already competing against each other.

ARC RaidersThe Shrouded Sky update will be released on February 24th.
marathon's Server Slam starts on February 26th.

ARC RaidersThe Shrouded Sky update adds some interesting environmental changes like hurricanes. The Extraction shooter is great because Embark Studios has built a solid world that can be gradually built and evolved through these kinds of updates. ARC Raiders It's really worth it. Although this approach keeps things fresh, marathon's server slam may tempt some. ARC Raiders Fans should check out other interpretations of the genre. Even after the server slam ARC Raiders Players who are bored and looking for something new. Embark Studios has done a great job with maintenance. ARC Raiders It's interesting, but some players may have a craving that only a new game can satisfy.

The Shrouded Sky update finally added a beard to the character.

marathon It's been a tough road to this moment, but it'll be very interesting to see if the extra time spent in the oven pays off for Bungie. Although the closed alpha test didn't go as planned, the server slam has the potential to open a new chapter for the game. If that goes well, then ARC Raiders There will be a really worthy competitor. There are some good extraction shooters out there, but the obvious one is ARC Raiders It is now the king of the genre. Adding another major extraction shooter will not only help the competition, but will further solidify extraction shooters as the next big genre.

ARC Raiders and marathon The price is the same at $39.99.

games like Wolfenstein 3D and fate The beginning of the FPS trend, call of duty Military shooting games became popular, fortnite We've created a tsunami-sized battle royale clone and live service title. I think it's time for something new to take over the industry. ARC Raiders and marathon Head-to-head competition can be the thrilling start to a new era. If everything goes well marathon's server slam, it will be interesting to see what happens ARC Raiders Respond to another strong attacker in the area. Only time will tell, but watch the feedback. marathonThe launch of will be fascinating. Bungie has probably improved. marathonAnalyzes the gameplay and overall content of , which has the potential to change the current content. ARC Raiders Good players.