Marathon's player count saw a temporary surge following the introduction of the "Vault Breakers" PvE mode, reaching a peak of 14,771 concurrent players on Steam. This update, intended to boost player retention, initially brought the game to its highest numbers since mid-June.

However, shortly after the "Vault Breakers" launch, player counts began to decline again. Currently, daily concurrent players are fluctuating between 2,000 and 7,000, with a downward trend observed even within a week of the update. Player sentiment is mixed, with discussions on platforms like r/Marathon highlighting both praise and criticism for the new mode.

Common complaints revolve around the game mode's steep learning curve, the inability to extract loot, and its difficulty for solo players. Despite these issues, there's a general acknowledgment of "Vault Breakers" potential within the Marathon community. Bungie has acknowledged feedback and announced upcoming changes to ease early-game and solo play, expected around September with Season 3.