Marathon has spent Season 2 testing what a bigger PvE side of the game could look like. Vault Breaker arrived as an experimental multi-run PvE activity, and Bungie has already confirmed that Season 3 will build on those ideas with a full PvE mode, major Perimeter changes, new weapons, equipment, and another Runner shell.
On the player numbers side, Marathon’s Steam population has fallen heavily from its launch peak, even if those numbers don’t include PS5 and Xbox players, and Bungie is now heading toward the September 22 Season 3 launch that needs to give people a reason to return.
Now, it looks like we may have our first detailed look at what Bungie is testing, and it’s a lot more substantial than another temporary PvE playlist.
Marathon Season 3 playtest reportedly focused on PvE and onboarding
A Marathon Season 3 NDA-protected playtest reportedly took place around August 24, with Bungie testing the upcoming PvE mode alongside changes aimed at improving the new-player experience. This info was leaked via several members in the official Marathon Discord server sharing how they joined the server specifically for a new playtest
The private session is said to have included players with limited Marathon experience, giving Bungie feedback on how Season 3’s new systems work for people coming into the extraction shooter fresh.
The much bigger leak appeared shortly afterward. A Reddit user posted an extensive Season 3 summary, claiming the information came from a “moderator friend” who had taken part in the test.
So, grain of salt firmly applied here. Bungie hasn’t confirmed these details, and playtest content can change before release. You can find all the leaked details about Marathon Season 3 below.
Marathon Season 3 leaks detail a much bigger PvE loop
The main leak claims Season 3 PvE consists of four linked runs.
Players can choose their map during the first three runs, complete PvE objectives, collect resources, build their score, and extract. Some materials reportedly go directly into the stash, while others can be sold or converted into Cradle XP.
The fourth run always takes place in the reworked Perimeter and ends with the Tick Queen boss fight. Your combined score across all four runs supposedly controls the final reward tier.
Perimeter could be getting an underground area almost as large as the existing map
Bungie has officially said Season 3 will revamp Perimeter with major new areas and encounters.
According to leaked deatils, the new Perimeter contains a large underground expansion that’s roughly comparable in scale to the current above-ground section.
If that survives testing, Perimeter isn’t getting the usual seasonal treatment of a blocked doorway opening and two loot rooms moving around. Doubling the useful footprint of Marathon’s starting map would practically change how the whole map plays out.
The leak also claims Perimeter contains four bosses or boss-level encounters. Compiler can reportedly appear naturally while exploring the map. A second enemy currently nicknamed “Modified Locus” is described as a huge Locus shell with four shields, missile attacks, and fast movement.
Its mechanics were apparently compared with Atraks from Destiny 2, and the leak says earlier test versions could trigger the encounter simply by entering its area. Tick Queen is supposedly the guaranteed boss of Run 4.
The fourth is still a mystery boss. According to the post, it has a dedicated page or interface entry, but very few people involved in testing have encountered it and its activation conditions aren’t known.
According to the leak, the Tick Queen fight is pure cooperative PvE with no enemy players and no hidden traitor or impostor mechanic. The Queen reportedly spits hardening slime while regular Ticks and black-shelled variants continue spawning around the arena.
Enemies have a chance to drop fuel. Players then collect that fuel, power a machine, open a safe room, reach it before a timer expires, complete a “burning” phase, and return to damaging the boss.
That’s much closer to Bungie’s Destiny encounter design than Marathon’s current boss fights. Mechanics interrupt damage, the group has jobs to complete, then the boss becomes the focus again.
Flash Boosts reportedly add a temporary build system
Flash Boosts add another progression layer. Players can supposedly equip up to 6 Flash Boosts, reroll them, and receive increasingly powerful versions across White, Blue, Purple, Gold, and Red rarities. Some boosts are also tied to particular Runner shells.
The leak lists out a few of these boosts:
- Hot Patch makes Shield Batteries restore ability energy while healing items restore ultimate energy. The reported values scale through 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12%.
- Big Iron improves pistol range and accuracy when enemies are nearby, with listed values of 15, 25, 35, and 45.
- Electron Release causes EMP kills to chain electrical arcs. Higher tiers reportedly increase the number of targets from two to five and the range from 7m to 10m.
Vandal supposedly has an exclusive Flash Boost that increases the range and damage of fully charged hand-cannon shots.
The leak also claims Sponsored Kits can be upgraded, vendors are being reworked, and different faction kits can be carried.
New Leaked Weapons in Marathon Season 3
The post also reveals several pieces of weapons that aren’t currently part of the game.
The V17 is reportedly a new weapon capable of firing flames. There isn’t enough information yet to say whether that’s a flamethrower-style weapon, an incendiary projectile gun, or something stranger.
A throwing knife throwable is also claimed to be in testing. When paired with the V11, the current build allegedly allows a headshot to kill smaller UESC enemies in one hit.
Finally, the leak mentions a revolver that’s still unfinished.
Ranked changes and unreleased cosmetics are part of the leak
Ranked is supposedly receiving changes too, although leaked details don’t give enough information to explain how the mode itself is being altered.
The cosmetic side is more specific. The leak mentions what appears to be an Arachne-style weapon skin, plus a new Triage shell skin resembling Marathon’s existing “train-monster” cosmetic style. The Triage skin reportedly includes unique voice lines.
The Reddit post also included a new weapon skin for Stryder M1T that’s currently not in the game. The skins appears to be themed around the NuCaloric faction. Take a look below!
How the leaked Season 3 PvE loop supposedly works
- Run 1: Pick a map, complete PvE objectives, collect resources, and build score.
- Run 2: Repeat with upgraded gear or Flash Boosts.
- Run 3: Continue building resources and your combined score.
- Run 4: Enter the rebuilt Perimeter and fight the Tick Queen.Rewards: Your total score across all four runs determines the final reward tier.
Bungie has confirmed Season 3 launches on September 22, along with a full PvE mode and major Perimeter changes. Everything beyond that remains unconfirmed until Bungie shows it publicly.
Would a four-run PvE mode, new bosses, and a much larger Perimeter be enough to get you back into Marathon for Season 3? Let us know in the comments.
