Visuals receive tweaks, with improvements to implant iconography aligned to player feedback.

Vault Breaker supports solo, duo, or trio play and emphasizes hit-and-run tactics to uncover loot and access deeper deck areas.

Balance and sandbox changes include buffs to the WSTR Combat Shotgun, adjustments to the D54 Battle Pistol and Misriah 2442 shotgun, and limits on grenades and Bubble Shields to curb spam.

Loot inside Vault Breaker is currency-based: items don’t extract, but earned Vault Data currency upgrades kits, abilities, and rotating store items usable across modes.

A reward system grants Tier One Vault Data for killing a USEC Commander within a run, even if extraction fails, to incentivize participation.

A mandatory Sponsored Kit starts at a low level and can be upgraded through Vault Breaker runs.

Bungie unveils Vault Breaker, Marathon’s first major PvE mode, launching in the mid-season update and running as a limited-time event from July 21 to August 4 before a full rollout in Marathon Season 3 starting September 22.

Vault Breaker introduces a cooperative, PvE-focused entry to Marathon’s world, offering solo, duo, or trio play and a pursuit of loot through raid-like vaults within the Cryo Archive.

The mode shifts away from PvPvE tension toward dungeon-crawl progression, with waves of AI UESC enemies, vault puzzles, and a final boss encounter against the Compiler.

Alongside Vault Breaker, general fixes and map/loot improvements address interaction issues, stutter, stability, and quality-of-life concerns across ranks, inventory, zones, and exfil navigation.

Players must choose between early extraction for loot or pushing deeper for better rewards as timed runs culminate in tougher encounters, including the Compiler.

Players operate as Runners on the Cryo Archive, progressing through rooms while fending off hordes.