What’s the deal with Destiny 2 review wars?

Players turned Marathon reviews into a Destiny 2 proxy fight

With Bungie announcing that Destiny 2 will end active development and receive its final update in June, some players have started directing that frustration outward—turning Marathon Steam reviews into what is essentially a proxy battleground for the Destiny era.

According to the story set, Destiny 2 players began leaving negative reviews on Marathon after the end-of-live-service announcement, framing the newer Bungie title as part of the reason Destiny 2 is being wound down. At the same time, Bungie fans have responded with counter-campaigns on Marathon—pushing back against the idea that the studio’s new focus should be punished via review bombing.

This matters because it shows how quickly communities can weaponize storefront signals when a long-running live-service game ends. Reviews are not just impressions of gameplay; they become a way to assign accountability and express anger at perceived studio priorities.

The context is also important: the stories around Destiny 2 paint a picture of a close-out phase that includes both an end to active development and reports of future uncertainty for Bungie’s workforce, including layoffs. When a studio is in transition, players often interpret new work as a bet on the next thing—especially if the outgoing game has been a major part of their routine for years.

While the specific mechanics of how much review activity is changing user decisions aren’t quantified in the coverage, the key outcome is clear: Marathon has become a place where Destiny 2 audiences are contesting what Bungie should do next and who should “pay” for the end of updates.

In short, Marathon is being judged in a way that goes beyond its own gameplay—because the end of Destiny 2 created an emotional and financial stake for players who feel their long-term investment is ending.