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.