Marathon’s Major Update Introduces End-Game Nightmare Map Cryo Archive, But Access Remains a Mystery

Marathon is now in its second week since launch, and Bungie has rolled out its most substantial patch to date. This update brings a host of fixes and adjustments, with the standout feature being a new end-game map called Cryo Archive. It’s live in the game, presumably packed with valuable salvage, but the method to access it remains a mystery. As Bungie puts it, “Good luck getting there.”

In a familiar twist reminiscent of Destiny, accessing Cryo Archive seems to hinge on solving an ongoing ARG. Players have been busy tackling puzzles and uncovering intriguing videos over the past week, but for many, it will likely be a matter of logging in one day to find the next phase of Marathon activated.

Once Cryo Archive is accessible, players will need to be at least level 25 and have unlocked all Factions to dive in. While this isn’t overly challenging, it does require some investment of time, which may keep more casual players from experiencing the new map right away.

Before that happens, Bungie has already implemented some appreciated changes to the core game. This includes a nerf to the WSTR Combat Shotgun, which has been dominating close-quarters combat, and a fix for the bug that caused knife cosmetics to unequip unexpectedly. Additionally, UESC dropships will no longer clip through the map or inadvertently eliminate players upon arrival.

The most notable adjustments involve audio and weapon mod management. Players can now drag and drop weapon mods in the inventory menu, simplifying vault management and attachment changes. Furthermore, the range of enemy gunfire sounds has been reduced, addressing a previous issue where players could hear gunfights from across the map.

Bungie has also been proactive in tackling other concerns, increasing ammo drops across the map and enhancing the frequency of player encounters to keep the action lively. They’re even moving forward with an experimental duos mode that fans have been clamoring for. While there are concerns about potential matchmaking fragmentation, it should provide a fun alternative for squads when a third player decides to call it a night early.

The complete patch notes for Marathon 1.0.5 are below: