Bungie’s Marathon is getting a permanent PvE mode, and you can try it during a free week
Marathon is getting a new way to explore Tau Ceti without worrying about another player hunting you down. Bungie’s Symbiosis update arrives on December 8 with Expedition, the game’s first permanent PvE mode, as well as an experimental 3v3 Deathmatch.
If you have been curious about the shooter but have not bought it, Bungie is also opening the full game for a trial from December 8 through December 15. You will not need to purchase the game for that week, although Bungie says console play requires internet access and a paid online subscription.
After the trial, you need a game license to keep playing. The update itself is available to existing players, and Bungie says people who buy Marathon after Open Play Week can keep the items and progression they unlocked during it.
Bungie shows an Expedition Run Series in its developer breakdown. Image: Bungie
Expedition gives Runners a different kind of fight
Bungie describes Expedition as a cooperative PvE mode with its own queue. You can enter solo, as a duo or in a trio, and work alongside other crews against the game’s enemies and environmental hazards rather than competing against them.
Its first phase is built around a Run Series: three runs that grow more difficult, ending with a tougher challenge. During the series, players can pick up Flash Boosts to shape their builds. Bungie says collected gear and Boosts are sold when the series ends, while credits and XP carry forward.
That could make Expedition a useful starting point if the prospect of losing a fight to another crew has kept you away. You can still expect challenges from the world itself, and Bungie says it will share more about a second phase in March.
Flash Boosts let players shape a build during an Expedition series. Image: Bungie
A PvP beta and a new social space are coming too
Symbiosis does not leave competitive players out. Its Deathmatch beta pits two teams of three against each other for points without putting their permanent loadouts at risk.
The update also refreshes the Perimeter zone with fungal growth and new areas called the Burrows and Reservoir. A social space named Limbo includes firing ranges and a dueling pit, while the new Bishop Runner shell and weapons expand the options available to players.
Perimeter is being transformed for the Symbiosis update. Image: Bungie
What to know before the open play week
Marathon is available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The December 8 through December 15 trial lets people try the game without buying it; after that, continued play requires a compatible copy. Check your platform’s online requirements before the week begins.
For PS5 players who like themed hardware, the Marathon Limited Edition DualSense controller is an optional accessory. It is sold separately from the game and is not required for the update or trial.
Image credit: Bungie.
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