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Destiny 2 installation triggered by marathon pre orders

Marathon Pre-Orders | Destiny 2 Installation Glitch Raises Eyebrows

By

Maria Chen

Jan 21, 2026, 09:12 PM

Edited By

Sofia Wang

Updated

Jan 22, 2026, 03:59 AM

2 minutes of duration

A computer screen displaying Destiny 2 installation progress while Marathon pre-orders are visible.
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Recent pre-orders for Marathon have inadvertently triggered installations of Destiny 2 on Steam, surprising the gaming community and raising questions about Bungie's latest rollout. This odd glitch seems connected to pre-order bonuses, which include cosmetics for Destiny 2, leading some to believe it was a publishing oversight from Bungie, who last released a title on Steam back in 2019.

What Went Wrong?

Sources indicate that the installation mishap springs from Marathon's setup, likely misconfigured during its release stage. Several comments on forums provided insights, suggesting that the connection between the two games was overlooked when creating the pre-order framework. As one poster noted, "Steam likely detected that fresh content was linked to Destiny 2 and prompted an installation since that game is free."

Community Reactions

Players expressed mixed feelings of humor and annoyance regarding the incident. While some found it amusing, many recognized the possible repercussions for players currently engaged in Destiny 2. Key points raised included:

  1. Pre-order Impacts: Pre-ordering Marathon grants users bonuses for Destiny 2, which could lead Steam to initiate an automatic installation. A user explained, "People likely just clicked yes without reading what Steam asked."

  2. Dev Errors: The glitch has sparked discussions about Bungieโ€™s past problems during game launches, reminiscent of similar issues in other titles, like the Sims series.

  3. Loyalty to Bungie: Despite the frustrating situation, gamers remain supportive of Bungie due to nostalgia for previous titles, with many willing to laugh off the glitch.

Sentiment in the Community

Gamers seem torn between joking about Bungieโ€™s long-standing history of glitches and their real concerns over how this could affect player engagement. As one user noted, "This sets a dangerous precedent," showing the sentiment isn't entirely positive.

Key Takeaways

  • ๐ŸŽฎ Pre-orders for Marathon directly connect to bonuses from Destiny 2, leading to auto-install prompts.

  • ๐Ÿค” Players suspect that Steamโ€™s processes interpreted the new content linkage incorrectly, sparking the installation.

  • ๐Ÿ”„ "This can happen again! One lazy checkbox can create chaos!" said a community member, highlighting the shared experience.

Bungie now faces the challenge of addressing this glitch while managing ongoing concerns around player engagement in Destiny 2. There's speculation about an imminent patch to rectify the installation issue, likely needed in the coming weeks. Moreover, the unexpected confusion might serve as a marketing opportunity, leveraging the interest in Marathon to boost engagement in both titles.

An Unforeseen Opportunity?

This glitch opens a dialogue reminiscent of past mishaps in gaming that eventually led to greater innovations. Just as unforeseen incidents in previous online games resulted in a stronger community connection, Bungie could turn this current oversight into a chance for growth, enriching both Marathon and Destiny 2 as they navigate the competitive gaming terrain in 2026. Will Bungie capitalize on this moment? Only time will tell.