Bungie has outlined the next major updates planned for Marathon, including a permanent PvE mode, a new shell, an expanded Perimeter and a larger evolution of the game scheduled for March. The roadmap begins with the Nightfall Refresh in October, followed by the Symbiosis update in December.
The Nightfall Refresh is described as a focused update aimed at improving the current experience while development continues on the larger December and March updates. It will also introduce a rotation of returning game modes.
Symbiosis will be Marathon’s first major step towards its future, introducing a permanent PvE mode for players who want to explore and experiment without being hunted by other Runners. The update will also add an experimental Team Deathmatch mode, providing a lower-commitment way to compete and practise combat.
Perimeter will receive a significant visual overhaul, with a new fungal ecosystem changing the landscape, opening new routes and giving the zone a distinct identity. New points of interest and challenging areas will also be added, including an encounter with the Tick Queen, described as Marathon’s largest combatant yet.
Symbiosis will introduce a new shell called Bishop, a high-performance robot samurai designed around speed, surprise and bursts of melee damage. The update will also improve onboarding and add a CyAc-sponsored social space with a firing range where players can meet, prepare and test weapons, abilities and shells.
March update:
- Permanent PvE, PvP and PvEvP experiences connected together
- New onboarding experience
- Refactored Cradle and deeper shell progression
- More focused questlines and narrative
- New alien combatants
- Entirely new zone
Bungie says the March update will bring these systems together as a connected experience, while also establishing a foundation for further development beyond 2027. The studio also plans to continue releasing quality-of-life improvements and focused experiments between the larger updates.
Marathon’s developers said the changes are being shaped by feedback from both new and experienced players, with the goal of offering different levels of intensity, options for solo players and crews, and more approachable ways to learn the game.
