Bungie's latest survival extraction shooter, Marathon, has surged to third place on Steam's sales charts, climbing 58 spots in just one week, fueled by pre-launch hype and a significant influx of new wishlists ahead of its official launch. The game's Server Slam Beta reached a peak of 143,000 concurrent players on its first day, showcasing strong community interest. While the gameplay, particularly its smooth and responsive gunplay, received widespread praise, players quickly voiced concerns over the game's user interface, which many found unintuitive and difficult to navigate. As a result, player numbers dropped to around 70,000 later in the beta, likely due to the game’s steep learning curve and complexity. In response to the low initial player count at launch, Bungie delayed the release of official reviews, citing the need for more data to ensure accurate assessments. Despite the launch challenges, early Steam reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with users commending the game’s action and combat mechanics. Meanwhile, Steam is promoting a range of other titles with major discounts. The popular city-building game Cities: Skylines is free this weekend and will be available at a 90% discount afterward, maintaining its high reputation with over 92% positive community reviews. The cyberpunk shooter Ruiner is also on sale for €1.95—its lowest price since its 2017 release—offering fast-paced action combined with tactical elements like hacking and energy shields. Additionally, the sci-fi colony builder Aven Colony is available at a 90% discount until March 19, 2026, priced at just over €3, inviting players to construct a futuristic city on the dangerous alien planet Aven Prime. These promotions highlight Steam’s ongoing efforts to attract both new and returning players across diverse genres and price points.