Marathon's latest patch brings significant changes to Bungie's extraction shooter, including a highly anticipated new map, an experimental two-player queue, and balance adjustments that reshape how players approach combat and extraction.
According to PC Gamer, the patch adds Cryo Archive as the game's fourth map. The Cryogenic Archive has been referenced in an ongoing alternate-reality game created by Bungie, and its addition appears to reward the community for completing that challenge. However, the map comes with restrictions: players must unlock all factions and reach level 25 to access it. The patch notes humorously note that players should "good luck getting there."
Alongside the new map, Bungie is testing a duos queue starting Wednesday 18 March, as reported by Eurogamer. Game director Joe Ziegler confirmed the limited-time test will run for two weeks on the Perimeter map, allowing pairs to experience the game's mechanics with two-person crews instead of the standard three-person teams. Ziegler acknowledged that "some things will be a bit jank" and that the user experience will not be final, but emphasised this approach allows the team to gather data quickly before investing further development time. The duos test responds to community requests that have been circulating since the game's server stress test phase.
The patch introduces meaningful mechanical changes to survival gameplay. Players can now activate exfil beacons while downed, according to GameSpot, giving teams a shot at extraction even when members are incapacitated. Standard exfil beacons require 60 seconds to activate and demand 10 seconds in the extraction zone once live, while UESC-guarded beacons power up faster at 30 seconds. Activating a beacon creates a loud sound and light beam that alerts nearby enemies, making the move risky but potentially game-changing for teams facing pressure.
Balance adjustments target the WSTR shotgun, which had become the dominant weapon choice in the extraction shooter's competitive scene. The patch also removes a level requirement for Rook, making the character available to all players from level 0 onward. Previously, Rook was locked behind level 1, creating an artificial progression gate for new players.
The update addresses numerous quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes across the game's interface, AI behaviour, and ability interactions. Cryo Archive introduces three new implant perks and weapon mods exclusive to the map, encouraging players to engage with the high-barrier content once they meet the access requirements. Bungie's approach of gating content behind progression and completing community challenges suggests a strategy to maintain long-term player engagement through meaningful unlocks.
Ziegler made clear that duos won't be the final experiment. The developer plans to expand the feature as a permanent queue based on what the test reveals, signalling Bungie's willingness to iterate on core game modes in response to player data and feedback. For players interested in testing the duos mode, opting into the queue means avoiding encounters with incomplete three-person teams.