Marathon Set to Launch Expanded PvE Mode This Fall

Bungie has revealed more information about the upcoming changes to Marathon after a period of silence following significant layoffs at the studio. A mid-season update is set to launch next week, introducing a PvE “roguelite” version of Cryo Archive, which serves as the extraction shooter’s raid-like endgame map. However, the developers are hinting at an even more ambitious PvE experiment slated for this fall.

“Vault Breaker is our very first experimental PvE mode,” a recent blog post states. “We’re thrilled for you all to dive in and experience it, and we can’t wait to gather your feedback and data as we work towards our full PvE mode, which will debut in Season 3.” The post further emphasizes, “Vault Breaker, running from July 21st through August 4th, marks our initial venture into an experimental PvE mode, and we’ll be all ears for your feedback to help us refine and evolve PvE as we approach Season 3.”

This teaser indicates that Bungie is eager to see if Vault Breaker will resonate with players, as a successful PvE component is crucial for the longevity of Marathon. Vault Breaker essentially reworks Cryo Archive to eliminate PvP elements while ensuring that the rewards players earn don’t disrupt the multiplayer loot economy. The promise of a “full” PvE mode suggests that Bungie is crafting a more fundamentally altered version of Marathon that will not feature human opponents.

The remainder of the post serves as a preview of the mid-season refresh, which comes after a rather disappointing couple of months. Vault Breaker will provide players who missed out on completing Cryo Archive and its boss fight an opportunity to experience some top-tier level and encounter design moments. It will also introduce a complex progression path that won’t be detailed here. Additionally, the sandbox is being adjusted, with buffs for the WSTR Combat Shotgun and nerfs for the D54 Battle Pistol.

The most significant change involves grenades and bubble shields. Players will now be limited to two of one type of grenade or one of each when entering matches. This new cap on consumables aims to reduce repetitiveness in high-level engagements. “Feedback indicates that spam remains an issue on Cryo and that Bubble Shields are diminishing high-level combat,” the development team notes.

We’ll see if these changes bring a more positive atmosphere to the latter half of Season 2 compared to the first half. Season 3, along with its new PvE mode, is expected to arrive sometime after September 22.