Someone on the internet said that the positive Reddit comments about Marathon were not real. The story went like this: a Discord server was allegedly paying people to post praise for Bungie’s new extraction shooter, and screenshots circulated that looked convincing at first glance.
How the allegation started
The claim came from a now deleted Reddit post that was later archived and examined by reporters. The screenshots described a Discord server labeled a "Reddit test content farm for Marathon" that reportedly offered payments of $3 per comment and $5 per successful post. One screenshot even showed an offer of up to $50 for any post that went over 1,000 likes.
What the investigators found
Investigators traced the screenshots to a real Discord server called Reddit Circle. That server does exist, but the content shown in the screenshots did not mention Marathon. The images appear to have been altered to create the impression that the server was running paid promotion campaigns specifically for Marathon.
Exactly what would count as a "successful" post in the screenshots was not defined. It could mean engagement thresholds, reach, or some other metric. The claim, as presented, lacked clear evidence that payments were actually being made for Marathon posts.
How the rumor spread
The doctored screenshots were shared by users across multiple platforms, including posts that reached large audiences on X. Some of the accounts amplifying the story were AI powered. Replies to the screenshots quickly treated the claim as fact, and a few users expressed outright hostility toward the game and its publisher.
"Should've invested the money into the game instead," one user wrote. "Sales numbers aren't looking so good for Bungie."
"No matter how much money they invest into Marathon, it was a doomed project from the start," wrote another.
Within hours the original Reddit post was deleted, screenshots were removed, and some accounts that had defended the story went private and declined to comment. That rapid disappearance raised questions about the origin and accuracy of the materials.
Why this matters
The practice described in the screenshots would fall under astroturfing, which means paying for fake grassroots support. Astroturfing is unethical and in many contexts violates platform rules and laws. In this case, the available evidence suggests the screenshots were manipulated to create a false narrative.
For context, Marathon is Bungie’s first new IP in about 12 years since Destiny. The game has drawn attention for its extraction shooter design and map layouts and has built a notable player base. Like many live service titles, it has faced vocal critics and early negativity online.
Where Marathon stands now
Bungie is continuing to support Marathon. The developers released the Cryo Archive map and added ranked play. They have also started testing a Duo matchmaking option. The controversy over the Reddit screenshots does not appear to have changed Bungie’s roadmap for the game.
Bottom line: screenshots that looked like proof of paid Reddit promotion were misleading. The server named in the screenshots exists, but the material tied to Marathon appears to have been altered. That means the stronger claim that Reddit praise for Marathon was bought is not supported by the evidence that has been made public.
