Bungie's marathon unlocks haunting, raid-like 'cryo archive' exclusively on weekends

Bungie's sci-fi extraction shooter Marathon takes a chilling turn with the debut of Cryo Archive, a new, raid-like game mode that challenges players to navigate treacherous icy corridors, solve complex puzzles, and battle rogue UESC bots to unlock seven vaults containing the highest-tier gear yet.

Intensity cranked to the max, cryo archive demands expertise and teamwork.

Set within the labyrinthine UESC Marathon ship, Cryo Archive requires players to be at least season level 25, have all factions unlocked, and sport a loadout valued at $5,000 or more to access its frozen terrors. Bungie warns that mastering this pinnacle challenge will take many runs.

The seven vaults house gold-tier weapons in special lockers, but these are heavily guarded. Vault keys can be found on the other maps, adding an extra layer of strategy to the risk-reward dynamic. Players can also scavenge keys from fallen foes or, in a new twist, from other teams who bring them into the match.

Cryo Archive will only be available on weekends, making each attempt a special event. Completing contracts offered by the CyberAcme faction rewards high-tier gear, vault keys, and other exclusive goodies, which can be re-rolled each week.

Bungie's cryptic messages and ARG elements continue to weave a mysterious narrative, hinting at deeper secrets within Marathon's cryptic world.