Bungie has announced that Marathon's mid-season update, scheduled for July 21, will introduce a new endgame Player-vs-Environment (PvE) mode called Vault Breaker. This mode will allow players to explore the Cryo Archive map and engage with its vaults in a PvE-only environment, available for solo, duo, or crew play.
Vault Breaker presents players with progressively challenging vaults, culminating in an encounter with a "mysterious entity" within the final vault. Entry into this mode requires a special Sponsored Kit, and any gear acquired within the vaults must be left behind upon exiting. This design choice aims to prevent the influx of high-end loot into the general game economy, which typically arises from player-vs-player encounters in the Cryo Archive.
The update also introduces a new currency, Vault Data, which can be extracted from the mode. This currency can be used to upgrade Vault Breaker Sponsored Kits or to acquire gear applicable to other game modes.
Further additions include an updated Cradle Evolution system. This system allows for persistent character upgrades between runs. Players will be able to reset their Cradle after reaching its maximum level to earn an additional maximum Energy point and unique cosmetic items. Bungie has stated that these cosmetics will be earnable before their official in-game release later in the season. The speed at which players progress through the Cradle is also slated to increase with this update.
Looking beyond the mid-season content, Bungie has set September 22 as the launch date for Marathon Season 3. This upcoming season is expected to bring significant alterations to the early game experience, alongside new weapons, equipment, and a new Runner shell.