Bungie details Marathon 2027 roadmap, adds permanent PvE, Bishop

Bungie released a roadmap for Marathon covering updates through March 2027, announcing a permanent PvE mode, a new shell called Bishop, and phased updates in October, December and March.

Marathon launched as a PvEvP extraction shooter. Bungie confirmed core PvEvP gameplay will remain while the studio expands connected PvE and PvP options with varying intensity levels for solo players, casual sessions and organized teams.

The developer cited player feedback that the game is difficult for new players to learn and plans to improve onboarding and gradual progression systems.

Instead of fixed seasonal drops, Bungie will time updates by the scope of work. A smaller patch called Nightfall Refresh is due in early October and will reintroduce a rotation of previous game modes while larger features are completed.

The December update, titled Symbiosis, will add Marathon’s first permanent PvE mode and an experimental Team Deathmatch. The Perimeter zone will receive a visual overhaul built around a spreading fungal ecosystem, new points of interest, and a pinnacle encounter against the Tick Queen, described as Marathon’s largest enemy to date.

Symbiosis will also add a new shell named Bishop, characterized as a fast, melee-focused robot samurai. The update will include improved onboarding systems and a new social space intended for testing weapons and gear. Bungie added the social space is meant to give players a place to try loadouts and learn mechanics before higher-stakes matches.

The March release, labeled “Marathon’s evolution,” will connect permanent PvE, PvP and PvEvP modes into a unified system. The studio plans to refactor the Cradle to support deeper shell progression, deliver more focused narrative content, introduce new alien enemies and open an entirely new zone.

Bungie noted Marathon development will continue alongside ongoing support for the Destiny franchise, including plans to unvault Destiny 2 campaigns, destinations and raids. The studio did not provide a detailed timeline for post-March content or disclose team allocations between the two projects.

Marathon received criticism at launch for a steep learning curve. Bungie presented the roadmap as a response and listed permanent PvE, progression changes and social features among the planned adjustments.