The next major moment for Marathon arrives today with a new update and the debut of its PvE mode, Vault Breaker
Bungie has launched Vault Breaker, a new time-limited PvE mode for Marathon, alongside a mid-season update for Season 2. The mode marks a notable shift for the extraction shooter, which has struggled since launch, by offering players a dedicated, roguelite-style co-operative option separate from the game's usual player-versus-player structure.
Vault Breaker runs for two weeks, ending on 4th August, and is set on the Cryo Archive map, supporting solo, duo and trio play regardless of Runner level. Players raid increasingly difficult Vaults while fighting UESC enemies, choosing when to extract, and use a Vault Data currency to upgrade a mandatory Sponsored Kit rather than their own loadouts; gear earned cannot be carried into the main game, though Vault Data itself can be spent in a dedicated Armory. Bungie has also confirmed a fuller PvE mode is planned for Season 3, though details remain unclear, and the update follows the recent departure of Marathon director Joe Ziegler and layoffs affecting parts of the studio.
In short
- Bungie launches Vault Breaker, a time-limited PvE mode for Marathon
- Roguelite mode runs two weeks, ends 4th August, on Cryo Archive map
- Fuller PvE mode planned for Season 3; director recently left Bungie
Explained simply
Marathon is a free-to-play online game created by Bungie, the studio known for the Destiny series. Launched this year as an extraction shooter, the game places players on maps to collect loot but requires them to escape to safety before time runs out, with other players able to ambush and steal their spoils. Since launch, the game has struggled to build a lasting audience.
Today's update introduces Vault Breaker, a co-operative mode that marks a significant departure from Marathon's usual player-versus-player structure. Instead of competing against other players, teams of up to three work together to fight computer-controlled enemies and extract with rewards, with all gear earned staying within that mode. The studio has confirmed plans to expand co-operative content in future updates, signalling that this represents an important new direction for the game.
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