Marathon
News, coverage and analysis tracking Marathon across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Thanks to the New Vault Breaker Co-Op Mode, I Can Finally Appreciate Marathon’s Most Intriguing Map
The limited-time Vault Breaker co-op mode in Marathon, ending August 18, offers a unique opportunity to appreciate the Cryo Archive map's design. This experimental PvE mode allows players to explore the map's intricacies without the pressure of PvP combat.
Marvel’s Wolverine Has Given Us Sony’s Best-Looking PS5 Ever
Sony has unveiled a new limited-edition PlayStation 5 console and controller bundle inspired by the upcoming game Marvel's Wolverine. The "Battle Yellow" design features artwork by Jock and will be available on September 15, coinciding with the game's launch. This release marks a departure from Sony's recent trend of less distinctive limited-edition hardware for the PlayStation 5.
Even after 200 hours, Marathon's greatest secret is still deciphering the rhythms of rival players
This analysis delves into the strategic nuances of Bungie's extraction shooter, Marathon, after over 200 hours of gameplay. It highlights how understanding player rhythms, sound cues, and map flow is crucial for survival and success, even when direct combat is lost. The article emphasizes that victory in Marathon is defined by player objectives, such as completing contracts or exfiltrating safely, rather than solely by eliminating opponents.
Something for the Weekend – 01/08/26
This week's gaming news includes Sony's cautious approach to physical media, Nvidia's reported graphics card price increase, and Double Fine regaining independence with layoffs. New game announcements include Thimbleweed Park 2 and a Croc 2 remaster, with Crazy Taxi: World Tour and Marathon's PvE mode receiving updates. PlayStation Plus August 2026 Essential games were revealed, and Xbox Network experienced downtime due to a licensing service issue.
Evening Reading - July 31, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers several industry updates, including PlayStation's cautious approach to ending physical disc support, Razer's acquisition of StreamElements, and Unity supplying Netflix Games with a dedicated engine. Nexus Mods updated its guidelines for generative AI tagging, Dragon's Dogma 2 will feature a Hard Mode, and various download deals are available for PlayStation and PC.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 31: Bethesda celebrates 40 years
Bethesda Softworks is celebrating its 40th anniversary with significant sales across its game catalog, including popular franchises like Doom, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Quake. Numerous PC storefronts like Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.com are participating, offering discounts on individual titles and bundles. Additionally, several free games are available for a limited time on platforms such as Amazon Luna.
What We Played – MineGeon, Black Ops & Heave Ho 2
Several individuals shared their recent gaming experiences, including playing Heave Ho 2, 33 Immortals, Infinite Wealth, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Others reviewed titles like Planet Crafter, The Relic: First Guardian, The Mound, and Moonlight Peaks. Additionally, Call of Duty: Black Ops on PlayStation 5 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 were highlighted.
Has 'Xbox 360 brown' nostalgia finally arrived?
The article discusses the potential return of 'Xbox 360 brown,' a trend characterized by desaturated colors and gritty themes that emerged in the mid-2000s. While acknowledging that current games like Gears of War: E-Day still incorporate this aesthetic, the author suggests a full revival is unlikely but a moderate comeback of low-saturation grime could be a natural evolution following current trends like PS1-style low-poly models.
Bungie will keep Marathon’s Vault Breaker PvE mode online
Bungie has announced that the experimental PvE mode 'Vault Breaker' for their extraction shooter Marathon will remain online until August 18th, extending beyond its original July 21st to August 4th window. This decision comes after positive player engagement and feedback, with the mode offering a glimpse into Marathon's PvE future and allowing players to explore the Cryo Archive map.
Marathon adjusts the solo queue for its PvE roguelike mode and applies a small list of fixes
Marathon has adjusted its solo queue for the PvE roguelike mode, Vault Breaker, to be less punishing for solo players by reducing enemy aggression and increasing critical damage. The update also includes various bug fixes for issues like unclaimable rewards and UI problems. A double XP weekend is scheduled from July 31st to August 3rd.
Marathon’s Vault Breaker disappoints, but there’s still hope for Season 3
Bungie's new time-limited Vault Breaker PvE mode in Marathon, while offering a glimpse into the game's sci-fi universe without player threats, is not a successful solution for the game's current issues. The mode, set in the Cryo Archive, is difficult for new players to grasp and its progress does not carry over to the core game, limiting its appeal. Despite this, the article suggests that Season 3 holds promise for Marathon with a dedicated PvE experience and core game improvements.
Evening Patches
Recent updates include the July hotfix for Conan Exiles Enhanced (2.0.2) and Marathon's 1.1.5.1 update. Mirror's Edge also received DLSS and Frame Generation support on PC, 17 years after its initial launch.
MMO Week in Review: FFXIV in Berlin, Black Desert in SoCal, and Jimothy saturation
This week's MMO news covers Final Fantasy XIV's Fan Festival in Berlin, Black Desert's Heidel Ball, and the early access launch of SEED. Updates were also provided for Dungeons & Dragons Online, Aion 2, and The Guild reunion movie. Several games saw controversy including World of Warcraft staff cheating, Elder Scrolls Online capacity issues, and Microsoft layoffs.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 24: Steam Train Fest
This weekend's PC gaming deals include the Steam Train Fest featuring train-themed games, alongside significant discounts on titles like Resident Evil Requiem, Hades 2, and Red Dead Redemption 2 across various digital storefronts. Several games are also available for free weekends or trials, including Killing Floor 3 and Metal Gear Solid.
What We Played – Culdcept Begins, Tears of Metal & Halo: Campaign Evolved
Several writers share their recent gaming experiences, including Culdcept Begins, Granblue Fantasy Relink, and a modded Elden Ring. Others have revisited Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, played new titles like Tears of Metal and Shards of Order, and explored classics on the AYN Thor. Remakes like Metal Gear Solid Delta and Halo, along with previews of 1666: Amsterdam, are also discussed.
Loot, paranoia och flykt – historien om extraction shooters
This article traces the history and evolution of the extraction shooter genre, starting with The Division's Dark Zone in 2016 and Escape from Tarkov's beta in 2017. It highlights key titles like Hunt: Showdown and the recent success of Embark Studios' Arc Raiders, discussing the genre's core mechanics of looting, player-versus-player conflict, and the tension of extraction. The piece also touches on the genre's saturation and Bungie's controversial take with Marathon.
Marathon Still Has a Lot to Prove, Even With Its New PvE Mode
Despite the introduction of a new PvE mode called Vault Breaker, Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon continues to struggle with low player numbers, falling below 7,000 concurrent players on Steam. The new mode offers a roguelike progression system for solo players and teams, but the game's overall player base remains critically low, raising concerns about its future and the studio's investment, especially following the departure of game director Joe Ziegler.
Marathons tillfälliga PvE-läge lockar tillbaka spelarna
Bungie's Marathon has introduced a temporary Player-versus-Environment (PvE) mode called Vault Breaker, leading to a significant increase in concurrent players on Steam. This roguelite-style mode allows solo, duo, or trio play with progressively challenging vaults and offers cosmetic rewards. While the mode is experimental and available only until August 4th, new PvE content is confirmed for the next season, though initial player reception is mixed.
Marathon's experimental PvE mode is live, immediately tripling its daily player count
Bungie has launched the experimental Vault Breaker PvE mode for Marathon, which has reportedly tripled the game's daily player count. This new mode offers a roguelite progression system where players loot Vault Data for persistent upgrades, distinct from the standard extraction loop. The update also includes improvements to the Cradle system and new moderation tools to combat in-game chat toxicity.
Morning Patches
Fallout 76 will undergo maintenance on July 21, 2026, as announced by official patches. Additionally, Marathon has released a 'Vault Breaker Overview'.