Bungie has revealed Vault Breaker, Marathon’s experimental PvE mode, arriving with the July 21 mid-season update.
Marathon has not had the smoothest run since launch. The game came in with a lot of attention, but its Steam player count dropped hard after the early rush. Bungie also ran a free Open Play Week with Season 2, giving players a chance to try the full game from June 2 to June 11, but the boost did not really stick. Steam tracking shows the player count has already fallen back to where it was before that free week.
The studio had already said Marathon would get an experimental PvE mode during Season 2, which felt like a big deal for a game built around tense extraction shooter runs.
Now, Bungie has shared more details, and the mode finally has a name: Vault Breaker.
Marathon Vault Breaker PvE Mode Arrives July 21
In a new Marathon update, Bungie confirmed that Season 2’s mid-season update begins on July 21. That update will introduce Vault Breaker, an experimental PvE mode set inside Cryo Archive.
How Marathon’s Vault Breaker PvE Mode Works
Vault Breaker can be played solo, as a duo, or with a full crew. Instead of dropping into a normal extraction match where other players are the main threat, players will work through a series of vaults that get harder over time.
The mode also has its own progression. Players will need a “special Sponsored Kit” to queue into Vault Breaker, and the loot found inside does not leave with them after extraction. That detail matters. Bungie clearly does not want low-risk PvE runs flooding the main game with powerful Cryo Archive gear.
The one thing players can take out is Vault Data. This new currency can be spent on upgrades for Vault Breaker Sponsored Kits, and it can also be exchanged for gear that works in other modes. In other words, Bungie is trying to open the gates to make the game more welcoming for those looking for pure PvE experiences.
“Vault Breaker requires a special Sponsored Kit to queue up, and any gear or items you find stay behind when you exfil,” said 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 let’s you experience Cryo Archive without flooding the economy with low-risk, high-power Cryo loot.”
It is also hard to ignore the timing. Marathon is getting this PvE test while Bungie is facing more pressure than ever. Recent reports have claimed Bungie could face major layoffs, possibly affecting up to half of the studio, as Destiny 2’s live service development winds down.
Bungie has not officially announced those cuts at this time.
Still, Vault Breaker feels like a clear sign that Bungie knows Marathon needs more than its original pitch. What do you think? Is PvE the right move for Marathon, or should Bungie stay focused on extraction PvP? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
