The next major moment for Marathon arrives today with a new update and the debut of its PvE mode, Vault Breaker
Bungie has launched version 1.1.5 of Marathon, introducing Vault Breaker, an experimental roguelite PvE mode as part of Season 2’s mid-season update. The mode represents a significant shift from Marathon’s traditional PvP focus, offering players a separate gameplay experience rather than simply adding PvE options to existing modes.
Vault Breaker takes place exclusively on the Cryo Archive map and supports solo, duos, and trio configurations, with entry available to all players regardless of progression level. The mode features roguelite mechanics where players progressively increase their power across runs, facing environmental hazards and puzzles without competitive opponents. The experience is intentionally limited-time, running for exactly two weeks until August 4th.
The update proved immediately impactful on player engagement. Steam concurrent players surged to over 14,800 following the launch—approximately triple Marathon’s typical daily player activity from the previous week. This dramatic player growth suggests strong audience interest in the game’s experimental PvE direction.