In an effort to set it apart from other extraction shooters, Bungie is adding an experimental PvE mode to Marathon next month. The past few weeks have been incredibly rough for Bungie, especially after the recent layoffs that affected a significant portion of the team. Fair or not, Marathon has become the easiest target for Destiny 2 players trying to make sense of the game’s sudden end, and Bungie’s decision to bring PvE to the extraction shooter makes it all hurt even more.
Extraction shooters are often built around PvPvE, but Bungie is aiming to broaden Marathon‘s horizons. The developer’s answer to the extraction genre has struggled to reach high player numbers since its launch, but a fresh mode could potentially entice newcomers to check out the game. Marathon‘s PvE mode is right around the corner, and although it might be exciting for some players, it also puts Bungie’s new shooter in an uncomfortable position next to Destiny 2‘s final days.
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Here Is Everything That Bungie Has Confirmed About Marathon’s Next PvE Mode So Far
Those who are interested in seeing what the mode has to offer won’t have to wait long, which is good news. This experimental PvE mode is coming to Marathon on July 21 as a mid-season update. Marathon Season 2 launched to a rocky start with its Cradle XP reduction, but the other experimental PvE-like mode that was available at the season’s launch, Sponsored Survival, was met with a lot of positive feedback (it has since been taken out of the game for the time being).
Guess the games from the emojis.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Easy (120s)Medium (90s)Hard (60s)
Now, the wait for the new PvE mode begins. Bungie has confirmed that the mode is going to be called Vault Breaker, and it sounds like it’s going to shake up the standard gameplay that Marathon players have grown used to. With Marathon‘s player numbers floundering, Vault Breaker could give the game the shot in the arm it needs.
Vault Breaker PvE Mode Details
- The mode can be played by a full crew, duos, and solo players.
- This mode tasks players with progressing through a series of vaults that continue to get harder.
- Vault Breaker features its own progression system.
- Players have to queue up via a special Sponsored Kit.
- Players keep Vault Data from runs, while found gear is left behind after extraction.
- A new in-game currency called Vault Data can be used to upgrade the Sponsored Kit.
After Marathon‘s Sponsored Survival proved to be a decently well-received addition to the game, it’s going to be interesting to see how players respond to Vault Breaker. The mode could prove to be a positive step forward for the extraction shooter, but it could also make the Marathon vs. Destiny 2 debate that much stronger.
Marathon Getting PvE Right After Destiny 2’s End Is Painful Timing
Destiny 2‘s gameplay thrived on PvE, so Marathon getting its own dedicated PvE mode feels like painful timing more than anything else. Leading up to Marathon‘s launch, it seemed like Bungie wanted the game to stand apart as a dedicated extraction shooter that could compete with games like ARC Raiders. However, adding a PvE-only option into the mix complicates that identity, especially now that Destiny 2 players have no new live-service content to look forward to.
There is a world where both Destiny 2 and Marathon could have thrived together with two distinct identities. Unfortunately, it looks like players will never get the satisfaction of seeing that world become reality. Recent player activity around Destiny 2 has made it clear that Bungie’s long-running shooter still has a passionate audience. Even so, the latest layoffs make it hard to imagine Bungie and Sony supporting Destiny 2 and Marathon as full-scale, long-term pillars at the same time.
Instead, bringing PvE to Marathon makes it feel like Bungie is trying to give displaced Destiny 2 players somewhere else to go. It’s an understandable strategy, but it’s also deeply frustrating for players who would rather experience PvE in the game they already love instead of feeling pushed toward a different game. Marathon needs to bounce back in a big way this year, though, so Bungie may have to keep rethinking what the game is supposed to be.
A PvE mode might not be enough to attract the number of new players that Bungie needs. One obvious way for Bungie to grow the audience is by making Marathon free-to-play, but only time will tell if that actually happens.
Marathon’s PvE Mode Makes Destiny 3 Feel Even Less Likely
There is currently no way to know what will happen with Destiny 3, but plenty of fans will continue to hold onto hope. Right now, though, the future of the Destiny franchise looks incredibly bleak, and Marathon getting a full-time PvE mode would only make that feeling stronger. If Vault Breaker turns out to be the key that draws consistent players to Marathon, then Bungie may have even less reason to prioritize Destiny 3.
Only time will tell if Marathon‘s PvE is as successful as Bungie and Sony want it to be. The game has only been out for a few months, and competing with the likes of ARC Raiders has clearly been an uphill battle. Marathon still has potential and room to grow, but if that growth comes from moving closer to the kind of PvE experience Destiny fans just lost, then Vault Breaker may end up feeling like both a smart Marathon update and another painful reminder of what Destiny 2 no longer gets to be.
- Released
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March 5, 2026
- ESRB
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Teen / Animated Blood, Language, Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
