Bungie Adds PVE-Only Marathon Mode in Season 2 as 5-Season Revival Plan Takes Shape
Updated
Updated · Kotaku · May 14
Bungie Adds PVE-Only Marathon Mode in Season 2 as 5-Season Revival Plan Takes Shape
4 articles · Updated · Kotaku · May 14
June 2 will bring Marathon Season 2, with Bungie testing two new modes — one PVE-focused with light PVP and another fully PVE co-op mode.
Bungie said the shift responds to a shrinking player base and feedback that Marathon is too punishing, too grindy and hard for solo or less-skilled players to learn.
Season 2 also restores a rotating Duos queue and adds a larger vault, the Night Marsh map, the Cradle progression system and a new Sentinel character.
Season 3 will overhaul onboarding on Perimeter, Season 4 will deepen the extraction loop, and Season 5 aims to unify Marathon’s broader PV(P)VE ecosystem.
Bungie said it is planning Marathon beyond 2026 and into 2027 despite weak Steam numbers and concerns about the game’s early performance.
Can a pivot to 'chill' PVE modes rescue Bungie's $400 million hardcore shooter?
Will making Marathon more accessible alienate the hardcore fanbase it was originally built for?