Marathon's fourth map, the Cryo Archive, becomes available worldwide on March 20 after players solved a lengthy ARG involving puzzles and robots. This ultra-challenging raid-like activity requires teams to navigate six wings connected by a central hub, facing tough PvE fights and puzzles. It remains playable only through the weekend.
The Cryo Archive represents the hardest activity in Marathon to date, arriving shortly after a saga of puzzle-solving and robot encounters unlocked via an alternate reality game (ARG). According to a Bungie blog post, players must team up in groups to tackle demanding player-versus-environment (PvE) battles while progressing through six wings linked by a central hub. A new trailer accompanies the launch, highlighting the map's features including tough fights, puzzles, challenges, and cryo vaults that unlock via elevated security clearance levels for unique loot rewards. Extraction from this map differs from the previous three, with teams of three selecting from seven contracts to vie for additional prizes. Access demands an account level of at least 25, connections to all six factions, and a gear score minimum of 5,000 credits. Bungie has also announced a ranked mode for the following day, which has puzzled some players, prompting the developer to issue a maths test as preparation. The map's limited weekend availability encourages prompt participation.