Marathon Confirms New PvE Mode Release Date, Season 3 Begins September 2026

Marathon has set a release date for its upcoming PvE mode, Vault Breaker, as well as the start of Season 3.

Marathon will release its new “experimental” PvE mode on July 21st as part of the next mid-season update. This new mode will allow players to venture into Cryo Archive, the map used for the game’s endgame raid-like content, to take on a series of challenging vaults. You’ll be able to do this on your own or with allies, with a unique progression system that lets you grow more powerful ahead of the final vault. Bungie also revealed that Vault Breaker will have some specific requirements to participate.

“Vault Breaker requires a special Sponsored Kit to queue up, and any gear or items you find stay behind when you exfil,” says Bungie. “The exception to this is Vault Data. This new currency is found within vaults, and when extracted, can be exchanged for upgrades to your Vault Breaker Sponsored Kits as well as gear that can be used in other modes. This lets you experience Cryo Archive without flooding the economy with low-risk, high-power Cryo loot.”

This will come alongside “the first iteration of the Cradle Evolution system,” which will let you reset your maxed out Cradle back to zero in exchange for one additional maximum Energy point and unique cosmetic items. The mid-season update will also include various quality-of-life changes, including tuning changes and player profile stats.

Although Season 2 has only just begun, Bungie has already set a date for Season 3. The next season of Marathon will begin on September 22nd, bringing with it a whole bunch of new content and changes to the extraction shooter.

The news comes as Bungie is attempting to win over players who have yet to jump into Marathon or were turned off by it. The game has struggled to retain and attract players, prompting Bungie to make big changes to the game. There seems to be hope that, if it offers more than PvP extraction content, it may attact a wider player base, but so far, the tides have yet to turn for Marathon. It had a free trial at the start of Season 2, but it didn’t move the needle much. Whether or not future updates can turn things around remains to be seen.

Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.