Bungie has shared new details about "Marathon" and provided concrete dates for the next major update as well as Season 3. The developers are reacting to the current lull in the ongoing season.
The mid-season kicks off on July 21st with an experiment. The mode is called "Vault Breaker" and sends you into the so-called Vault Breaker, either solo or in a team. Cryo-archiveYou fight your way through increasingly difficult Vaults, growing stronger with each match, but ultimately losing your equipment upon exfiling. The only exception is the new currency, "Vault Data." You can exchange this for upgrades to your special event kits or for gear in normal mode.
That's a clever move. Bungie doesn't want to flood the main game's economy with cheap loot, as happened recently. Those looking for maximum risk will come up empty-handed. Those who manage their resources wisely will level up their kits. A PvE mode in an extraction shooter remains a gamble, though. It will either be extremely motivating, or it will quickly become monotonous. We'll see.
Prestige for the elite
Simultaneously, the first version of the "Cradle Evolution" system is being introduced. Once your Cradle reaches the maximum level, you can reset it to zero. The reward for the grind: an additional maximum energy point and cosmetic Runner Shells. To prevent this from becoming tedious, Bungie is increasing the progression speed. Finally, a reason to keep playing after reaching the max level.
This is complemented by player statistics in the profile and the usual balance adjustments. Sounds like a solid package to fill the summer lull.
Season 3 in sight
The next milestone follows on September 22nd with Season 3. Here, the developers are refining the entry experience. The "Perimeter" zone will be completely revamped, gaining new areas and fresh events. A new Runner, new weapons, and additional equipment are also included.
The roadmap is in place. Bungie is delivering exactly the structure the community has been missing. Vault Breaker could become the perfect testing ground for new mechanics without jeopardizing the core game. The September release date for Season 3 also indicates that the content flow is now accelerating. Whether the PvE approach will win over hardcore gamers remains to be seen.
