Destiny 2 players are posting large numbers of negative Steam reviews for Marathon to protest Bungie's decision to end live-service support [1, 3].
This coordinated effort highlights the volatile relationship between developers and their communities when a long-term project is shuttered. Because Bungie is shifting resources toward Marathon, fans of the older title are using the new game's public page as a venue for their grievances [1, 5].
Users have transformed the Marathon review section into a battleground [1]. The backlash follows announcements that Destiny 2 is approaching its conclusion and will no longer receive the same level of development updates [1, 2].
While some reports indicate Marathon is performing better than Destiny 2 on Metacritic, the Steam review page has become a primary target for the community's frustration [4]. This trend of "review bombing" is a common tactic in gaming communities to signal dissatisfaction to a publisher, though it often targets a product the reviewers have not played.
Fans are venting their anger over the perceived abandonment of the MMO in favor of the new project [1, 5]. The shift in development focus has created a divide between those anticipating Marathon and those mourning the end of Destiny 2's growth cycle [5].
Bungie has not issued a formal response to the influx of negative reviews on the Steam platform [1, 3].
“Destiny 2 players are posting large numbers of negative Steam reviews for Marathon”
This incident underscores the risks associated with the 'live-service' business model, where players invest years of time and money into a digital ecosystem. When a developer pivots to a new intellectual property, the displaced community may perceive the move as a breach of trust, leading to reputational damage for the new product before it even launches.
