Bungie is set to launch a new Player-versus-Environment (PvE) mode for its upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, on July 21. The mode, titled Vault Breaker, will allow players to tackle the game's raid map, Cryo Archive, in solo, duo, or trio configurations. Players will face a series of escalating vaults culminating in a confrontation with a "mysterious entity."
Vault Breaker introduces a distinct progression system designed to increase player power across multiple matches. To access this mode, participants will need a specific "Sponsored Kit," one of Marathon's free loadouts, presumably to ensure gameplay balance.
The most significant departure from the extraction shooter genre in Vault Breaker is its handling of loot. Unlike traditional extraction games where players aim to escape with valuable items, any gear or items acquired within Vault Breaker will be lost upon extraction. The sole persistent reward will be "Vault Data," a new currency that can be used to upgrade the Vault Breaker Sponsored Kit or purchase gear usable in other game modes.
Bungie stated that this decision to forgo loot extraction aims to prevent the game's economy from being flooded with high-power items obtained with low risk. This approach has elicited varied responses among observers. Some view it as a fundamental misunderstanding of the genre's appeal, arguing that keeping found loot is core to the experience. Others see it as a potentially valuable tool for learning maps and mechanics in a lower-pressure environment, free from the threat of player-versus-player conflict.
The developer is also implementing the first iteration of the Cradle Evolution system with the mid-season update. This feature will allow players who have reached maximum Cradle upgrades to reset their progress in exchange for an additional maximum energy point and exclusive cosmetic items. The update will also include other quality-of-life improvements, tuning adjustments, and the addition of player profile statistics. IMAGE12