Marathon’s Symbiosis update adds PvE and PvP on December 8

Bungie’s Marathon gets a substantial new slice of content on December 8, when the Symbiosis update adds a new PvE mode, a 3v3 PvP beta, expanded territory and fresh gear. The update is confirmed for all players, with an Open Play Week running from December 8 to 15. ¹

What the Symbiosis update adds

The Perimeter zone has been reshaped by fungal growth and alien life. The update adds the underground Burrows and submerged Reservoir areas, with a Tick Queen waiting beneath the surface. Bungie is also introducing Expedition, a PvE-only mode built around a three-run series. Players can tackle its combat and environmental challenges alone or with a crew, without rival Runners interfering. ¹

Deathmatch is the competitive counterpart: a beta 3v3 Team Deathmatch mode where crews fight for points without putting permanent loadouts at risk. A new Limbo social space gives players somewhere to test weapons, meet other Runners and duel. ¹

The update also adds the Bishop Runner shell, a V17 Flamethrower for close-range area denial and the Maverick revolver. Marathon remains available on PS5 with cross-play and cross-save support, although console play requires an internet connection and a paid console subscription. ¹

Open Play Week

Open Play Week begins alongside Symbiosis on December 8 and runs until December 15. That timing gives lapsed players a clear reason to return, while the PvE mode offers a less punishing alternative to Marathon’s extraction-focused PvP loop.

Our opinion

Symbiosis looks like a meaningful attempt to broaden Marathon beyond its core extraction matches. Expedition should give players a lower-pressure way to learn the game’s spaces and systems, while Deathmatch could make the shooting feel more immediately accessible. The important test will be whether the new modes expand the audience without pulling too much activity away from the game’s main loop.