By the BuyCarry News Team | March 27, 2026
🕵️ The Fake Conspiracy: Paid Reddit Posts
A wild theory recently swept across social media: that Bungie and Sony were secretly paying users to post positive content about Marathon on Reddit. The allegation, shared widely on X (formerly Twitter) and gaming forums, claimed a Discord server offered $3 per comment and $5 per “successful post” to artificially boost sentiment—an illegal practice known as astroturfing.
The screenshots appeared damning. But within hours, the truth emerged.
As Kotaku and ComicBook.com confirmed, the Discord server—called “Reddit Circle”—does exist, but it has nothing to do with Marathon. The screenshots were clumsily edited using browser tools. The original Reddit post was deleted, and the accounts pushing the narrative went private.
This wasn’t a scandal. It was a hoax.
So why did it spread so fast? According to ComicBook.com, much of the outrage came from far‑right gaming circles who have targeted Bungie over its reputation as a “woke” developer. For them, Marathon became a culture war symbol before it even launched.
“Instead of actually engaging the game and sharing criticism in a constructive manner, these efforts only add to the image of gamers online being overly reactive.”
The conspiracy was debunked within days, but the damage to online discourse was already done.
📉 The Numbers: Dropping Out of Steam’s Top 100
The conspiracy theory might be fake, but the player count trend is real.
According to Steam tracking data, Marathon has already fallen out of the platform’s Top 100 most played games, with concurrent players now hovering in the low tens of thousands. For a game that launched with significant hype and a strong initial surge, this decline is hard to ignore.
Several factors are likely at play:
- Retention struggles – Extraction shooters require compelling progression loops. If early hours feel punishing or unrewarding, players move on.
- Onboarding friction – Some players have reported confusion around mechanics like Security Clearance and extraction systems.
- Visibility loss – As player counts drop, so does discoverability on storefronts and streaming platforms, creating a tough feedback loop.
That said, it’s far too early to write Marathon off. Bungie has a long history of supporting games post‑launch—Destiny faced similar struggles before finding its footing. The recent Cryo Archive map and ranked updates show the team is still iterating.
💬 BuyCarry’s Take: Storm Before the Calm?
From our perspective at BuyCarry, the past few weeks for Marathon have been a textbook case of modern gaming’s double‑edged sword.
The fake conspiracy? Frustrating, but not surprising. When a game carries the weight of a studio’s future, it becomes a lightning rod. The fact that a poorly edited screenshot could spark such outrage says more about online tribalism than it does about Marathon itself.
The player count dip? A legitimate concern, but not a death sentence. Extraction shooters are a niche genre, and Bungie is known for playing the long game. The core gameplay is solid. The maps are well‑designed. The potential is there.
What Marathon needs now is time, transparency, and a few impactful updates to bring players back. If anyone can pull off a live‑service turnaround, it’s Bungie.
We’ll be watching closely—and helping players gear up for whatever comes next.
🎮 Our Marathon Services
- 🚀 Marathon Leveling & Progression Boost – Skip the early grind and unlock endgame content fast
- 🎓 Marathon Coaching & Cryo Archive Mastery – Learn extraction routes, security clearance, and ranked strategies from pros
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Did Bungie really pay for positive Reddit posts?
A: No. The screenshots were faked. The Discord server exists, but it has no connection to Marathon or Bungie. - Q: Why did the conspiracy spread so quickly?
A: The game had become a culture war target. Some groups wanted Marathon to fail and used the hoax to fuel negativity. - Q: Is Marathon dying on Steam?
A: Player counts have dropped out of the Top 100, which is concerning. But live‑service games often recover with updates. - Q: Can Marathon bounce back?
A: Yes. Bungie has a strong track record of supporting games post‑launch. The foundation is solid; it now needs meaningful content updates. - Q: How can BuyCarry help?
A: We offer carries, coaching, and guides to help you master Marathon’s mechanics, navigate Cryo Archive, and stay ahead of the curve.