Trending Now - Marathon Unveils Exciting PVE Mode and Future Vision
WHO:
IGN - Bungie is the developer of Marathon.
Kotaku - Joe Ziegler is the game director for Marathon.
WHAT:
IGN - Bungie is developing a purely PVP-focused mode as part of its plans for more experimental modes in Marathon.
Kotaku - Joe Ziegler stated, “With the first season of Marathon we’ve created a strong core community. We’re embarking on a multi-season journey built around growing from the seed of this strong community.”
Kotaku - Ziegler acknowledged that Marathon can be “overwhelming to learn” and that it is “easy to hit a wall if you’re not spending lots of time, don’t have a consistent crew, or are not super skilled.”
IGN - Bungie is introducing a new PVE mode that emphasizes working together to complete objectives and fight UESC bots, without player-on-player combat.
Kotaku - Season 2 will include a rotating Duos queue and will expand players' max vault size.
Kotaku - Season 3 will introduce significant revisions to the onboarding experience on Perimeter and additional content.
Kotaku - Season 4 will focus on building more depth into the existing extraction loop.
Kotaku - Season 5 will aim to bring together the whole ecosystem of (PV(P)VE) play and evolve the game's sci-fi world in new ways.
IGN - Bungie is introducing a new PVE-only mode in Season 2 of Marathon.
Kotaku - The first season of Marathon is wrapping up, and Bungie is planning to experiment with PVE-only modes and more casual PVP-lite experiences.
Kotaku - Season 2 of Marathon is set to go live on June 2.
Kotaku - Bungie reported a $765 million impairment loss due to Marathon's underperformance after being acquired by Sony.
WHERE:
Kotaku - The PVE-only action is coming to Tau Ceti IV.
WHEN:
Kotaku - Season 2 of Marathon will go live on June 2.
Kotaku - Bungie is planning for Marathon to evolve beyond 2026 and into 2027.
WHY:
IGN - Bungie aims to broaden Marathon's player base and make the game more approachable.
Kotaku - Bungie is addressing player feedback to make the extraction shooter more rewarding and less grindy.
HOW:
Kotaku - Bungie plans to add a new Runner Shell, a new nighttime Dire Marsh map variant, new weapons and equipment, and a tweak to the Runner stat system in Season 2.
Kotaku - Season 2 will include a rotating Duos queue, which had been an experimental feature throughout Season 1, and will now be finalized as a game mode.
Kotaku - Bungie plans to add a new Runner Shell, a new nighttime Dire Marsh map variant, new weapons and equipment, and increased progression rates for faction and runner levels.
IGN - Bungie plans to update and improve Marathon's onboarding experience for new players.
Kotaku - Bungie will experiment with two modes in Season 2: one focusing on PVE with a light touch of PVP and another that is purely PVE.
Kotaku - Bungie is looking to improve the late season endgame and introduce new runner classes and gear.
(UPDATED May 15, 2026 21:20 UTC)
Bungie is developing a new player-versus-player mode as part of its experimental plans for the game Marathon, while Joe Ziegler emphasized the importance of building a strong community as they embark on a multi-season journey. He also acknowledged that the game can be overwhelming for new players, especially if they lack time, a consistent team, or advanced skills. Looking ahead, Season 2 will introduce a new Runner Shell, a nighttime Dire Marsh map variant, new weapons and equipment, and a finalized rotating Duos queue, along with adjustments to the Runner stat system.
--
(UPDATED May 15, 2026 19:25 UTC)
Bungie is set to introduce an exciting new PVE mode that encourages teamwork to tackle objectives and battle UESC bots, steering clear of player-on-player combat. In addition to this, Season 2 will feature a rotating Duos queue and an expansion of players' maximum vault size, while future seasons will bring significant updates, including a revamped onboarding experience in Season 3 and enhancements to the extraction loop in Season 4. Looking ahead to Season 5, Bungie aims to unify the entire ecosystem of PVP and PVE play, evolving the game's sci-fi world in innovative ways, alongside new content like a Runner Shell and a nighttime variant of the Dire Marsh map.
--
(UPDATED May 15, 2026 11:41 UTC)
Bungie is set to launch Season 2 of Marathon on June 2, introducing a new PVE-only mode aimed at expanding the game's player base and making it more accessible. The action will take place on Tau Ceti IV, as Bungie responds to player feedback to enhance the extraction shooter experience by making it less grindy and more rewarding. Additionally, the company is planning to evolve Marathon beyond 2026, with updates to the onboarding experience for new players and the introduction of new runner classes and gear.