Bungie Reveals Marathon's Roadmap: PvE Mode, New Shell, and a Major "Evolution" in March 2027

Bungie has published a detailed roadmap for Marathon through 2027. In a lengthy blog post, developers Del and Julia explained how the game will change after its mixed launch and outlined three key stages: the Nightfall Refresh in October, the Symbiosis update in December, and a large-scale "evolution" of Marathon in March. The biggest news is that the shooter is moving beyond pure extraction. The game will get a permanent PvE mode, separate PvP activities, and a much friendlier entry point for new players.

According to the developers, the team closely reviewed player feedback after launch and identified three main problems. New players found the game hard to understand, experienced players wanted more clarity about its future, and those who enjoyed Marathon were looking for more reasons to keep coming back.

Marathon launched as a cutthroat, winner-takes-all PvEvP shooter. Bungie isn't abandoning that format for the players who enjoy it, but wants players with different preferences to find their own level of challenge. Some want a quick, low-pressure run after work, some spend an entire evening in the game with their crew, and others test builds, compete against other players, or unravel the mysteries of Tau Ceti IV.

Going forward, the developers will focus on three areas:

• More ways to play – PvEvP will remain an important part of Marathon, but it will become just one element of a connected system of PvE, PvP, and PvEvP modes. These modes will vary in intensity and suit both solo players and crews.
• An arsenal of shells – Bungie wants to rethink how Runners interact with the Cradle and give players more control over each shell's progression, capabilities, and role.
• A hostile world – Tau Ceti IV should become more alien and dangerous, with stronger ties to the original Marathon trilogy, more narrative, and new alien enemies. The developers specifically note that Marathon isn't Marathon without fighting the Pfhor, though these aliens have undergone a transformation of their own.

October: Nightfall Refresh

The first step will be the Nightfall Refresh, launching in early October. It's a focused update to progression, rewards, and the live experience. It's meant to improve the current experience while the team works on larger updates. The Nightfall Refresh will also bring back a rotation of game modes. Earlier this month, Bungie also announced it's moving away from a strict seasonal schedule. From now on, the pace of updates will be determined by the scope of the work and the team's capacity rather than the calendar.

December: The Symbiosis Update

Marathon's first truly significant step into the future will be the Symbiosis update in December. It will add more ways to play, an easier way into the game, and new opportunities to explore Tau Ceti IV with less pressure.

A Permanent PvE Mode

Players have long asked for a place where they can explore the world, experiment, and take on challenges without the risk of running into other Runners. Symbiosis will introduce Marathon's first permanent PvE mode. Some details are still being finalized, so Bungie will share more about it closer to release.

Experimental Team Deathmatch

The game will also get an experimental Team Deathmatch mode. It will offer a faster and simpler way to sharpen your skills and compete against other players without risking a full run. Bungie will watch how players respond to the experiment and use that data to shape the future of PvP in Marathon.

An Expanded Perimeter

Perimeter has served as the starting zone for new players since launch, but, as the developers admit, it lacked its own identity and depth. In Symbiosis, the zone will receive a major visual overhaul. A new fungal ecosystem is spreading across the landscape, transforming familiar locations and opening new routes.

Perimeter will also get new points of interest and challenging activities similar to Pinwheel on Outpost or the Upper Complex on Night Marsh. The highlight will be a fight against the Tick Queen, the largest enemy in the game to date.

New Shell: Bishop

The roster will expand with a new shell, Bishop. The developers describe it as a high-performance robot samurai. Bishop is built around speed, surprise attacks, and devastating bursts of melee damage. Bungie is leaving it to players to discover what role it will play in a crew and across different modes.

Better Onboarding and a Social Hub

The developers acknowledge that Marathon currently asks new players to learn too much, too quickly. That's why Symbiosis will improve onboarding so new players can get comfortable with the fundamentals. There will also be a CyAc-sponsored social space with a built-in firing range. There, players will be able to meet others, prepare for runs, test weapons and abilities, and get used to their shell.

March: Marathon's "Evolution"

The biggest update is planned for March 2027. According to Bungie, that's when all the new additions will come together into a cohesive system. The March plan includes:

• an interconnected system of permanent PvE, PvP, and PvEvP modes;
• a new onboarding experience;
• a refactored Cradle and deeper shell progression;
• more focused questlines and narrative;
• new alien enemies;
• an entirely new zone.

The developers are staying quiet about the new location for now. All that's known is that it will take Runners even deeper into the unknown. At the same time, Bungie emphasizes that March won't be the end point of the game's development. It's the foundation Marathon will continue to build on beyond 2027.

At the end of the blog, the developers acknowledged that talking about the future isn't enough to rebuild the community's trust. The team promises to share progress regularly and clearly explain what each update will and won't deliver. While work on Symbiosis and the March update continues, the game will keep receiving quality-of-life improvements and experiments that won't require players to reorganize their lives around limited time windows.

Alongside the blog, Bungie released Future of Marathon Part 1, a video from its Developer Insights series. Instead of a traditional dev diary, the team speaks candidly about the problems it's working on and the decisions shaping the game's direction. The developers also recommend checking out the studio leadership's broader Next Chapter for Bungie update, which these Marathon plans are part of.

In addition to the announcements at Marathon, the company also announced that it would continue to support Destiny 2 and bring back previously removed content.