TL;DR<\/p>\n
- \n
- Vault Breaker closed August 18, 2026 after an extension from August 4; unspent Vault Data and Sponsored Kit progress expired when it ended<\/li>\n
- Season 3 starts September 22, 2026 with a Perimeter revamp, a new Runner shell, and new weapons and gear<\/li>\n
- Bungie has not said whether the full PvE mode launches day one of Season 3 or mid-season<\/li>\n
- Season Rewards Passes never expire, so nothing is lost by sitting out Season 2’s remaining pass<\/li>\n
- The 1.1.5 balance changes (D54 nerf, V22 buff, grenade caps) are the new baseline, not a temporary event tweak<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"\n
Updated 4 September 2026<\/p>\n
This page now also covers the Season 3 release date and the leaked playtest details that were previously on a separate page. One article, one place \u2014 the split was ours, not the game\u2019s.<\/p>\n<\/div>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"title","heading":"The Short Answer","tag":"h2"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"
Bungie has confirmed Season 3 begins on September 22, 2026<\/strong> and will bring the game’s first permanent PvE mode, built directly from feedback Bungie collected during the Vault Breaker test. Alongside that, the season revamps Perimeter<\/em> \u2014 the starting map every new Runner learns on \u2014 with new areas and encounters, adds a new Runner shell, and drops fresh weapons and gear.<\/p>\n
What Bungie hasn’t said is almost as important. There’s no confirmation on whether the full PvE mode ships on day one of Season 3 or arrives mid-season the way Vault Breaker did in Season 2, and the studio hasn’t detailed the new shell or named a single weapon. Treat anything beyond dates and the four confirmed pillars as a placeholder until Bungie’s next blog post.<\/p>\n
\nJul 21<\/span>Vault Breaker went live<\/span><\/div>\nAug 18<\/span>Event closed; currency<\/a> expired<\/span><\/div>\nSep 22<\/span>Season 3 start date<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"title","heading":"Vault Breaker Closed August 18 \u2014 What Carried Over","tag":"h2"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"Vault Breaker was Marathon<\/a>‘s first experimental PvE mode, playable solo, duo, or trio through increasingly difficult vaults in the Cryo Archive<\/em>. Equipment found during a Vault Breaker run could not be extracted; only event currency and designated rewards left the activity.<\/p>\n
\nThe event closed on August 18, 2026. Unspent Vault Data and unfinished Sponsored Kit progress expired at the deadline and cannot now be recovered through the closed event.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
What Expired When the Event Ended<\/h3>\n
Tier 1 and Tier 2 Vault Data, unclaimed Armory purchases, and unfinished time-limited Codex challenges stopped being actionable when Vault Breaker closed. Bungie has not promised that missed cosmetics will return.<\/p>\n
What Carried Over<\/h3>\n
Items purchased with Vault Data before the deadline carried into standard Marathon activities. Cradle Evolution, introduced in the same update, is a permanent system, so progress banked there survived the event. The Vault Data farming guide<\/a> remains useful as a record of how the test economy worked, but its farming advice is no longer actionable while the event is closed.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"
![\"Marathon](\"https:\/\/neonsect.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/blog-marathon-art-0-1.webp\")
<\/figure>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"title","heading":"What Bungie Has Actually Confirmed for Season 3","tag":"h2"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"Season 3 rides in on the back of Season 2 and, per Bungie’s own Key Dates post, players can expect a revamp of Perimeter, the first map anyone plays. As it stands, it’s a comparatively safe map, but that will likely change when Season 3 lands, with Bungie planning to add major new areas, encounters, and gameplay elements. Beyond the map, Season 3 brings with it a new Runner shell as well as new weapons and gear, and \u201clots of other content and surprises.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Loadout-Limited cap that shipped with 1.1.5 is sticking around as the new normal heading into Season 3, not a Vault Breaker-only rule. Six items are capped at two per infil combined, and a Crew Error blocks the run if a squad tries to stack more:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Bubble Shield<\/li>\n
- Chem Grenade<\/li>\n
- EMP Grenade<\/li>\n
- Flechette Grenade<\/li>\n
- Frag Grenade<\/li>\n
- Heat Grenade<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Ganglion barters also picked up a hard stock limit of 3 per item (Hyphatic Gel excepted), some costs now fold in Rubber Salvage, and the reroll exploit players had been abusing to farm cheap rerolls is patched out.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"table","headers":[{"header_text":"Feature"},{"header_text":"What Bungie Confirmed"},{"header_text":"Status"}],"rows":[{"cells":[{"cell_text":"Full PvE mode"},{"cell_text":"Built from Vault Breaker feedback"},{"cell_text":"Confirmed for Season 3"}]},{"cells":[{"cell_text":"Perimeter revamp"},{"cell_text":"New areas, encounters, gameplay"},{"cell_text":"Confirmed"}]},{"cells":[{"cell_text":"New Runner shell"},{"cell_text":"Unnamed, no kit details yet"},{"cell_text":"Confirmed, undetailed"}]},{"cells":[{"cell_text":"New weapons and gear"},{"cell_text":"No specific names revealed"},{"cell_text":"Confirmed, undetailed"}]},{"cells":[{"cell_text":"PvE launch timing"},{"cell_text":"Day one vs mid-season"},{"cell_text":"Not confirmed"}]}],"size":"small"},{"acf_fc_layout":"title","heading":"Confirmed vs Leaked: Where the Season 3 Details Come From","tag":"h2"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"
Most of what circulates about Season 3 right now is not from Bungie. A closed playtest under NDA leaked, and its contents get repeated without the label. The split below is the useful part: the top half is what the studio has said, the bottom half is what leaked and could still change or never ship.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"table","headers":[{"header_text":"Detail"},{"header_text":"Status"},{"header_text":"Where it comes from"}],"rows":[{"cells":[{"cell_text":"Season 3 launches 22 September 2026, the day Season 2: Nightfall ends"},{"cell_text":"Confirmed"},{"cell_text":"Bungie \u2014 Marathon Key Dates"}]},{"cells":[{"cell_text":"Perimeter rework: major new areas and encounters"},{"cell_text":"Confirmed"},{"cell_text":"Bungie \u2014 Marathon Key Dates"}]},{"cells":[{"cell_text":"A new Runner shell (unnamed)"},{"cell_text":"Confirmed"},{"cell_text":"Bungie \u2014 Marathon Key Dates"}]},{"cells":[{"cell_text":"New weapons and equipment (unnamed)"},{"cell_text":"Confirmed"},{"cell_text":"Bungie \u2014 Marathon Key Dates"}]},{"cells":[{"cell_text":"A full PvE mode arrives during Season 3"},{"cell_text":"Confirmed \u2014 timing not stated"},{"cell_text":"Bungie \u2014 Marathon Key Dates"}]},{"cells":[{"cell_text":"Four connected PvE runs ending in a boss run"},{"cell_text":"Leaked, unconfirmed"},{"cell_text":"NDA closed playtest"}]},{"cells":[{"cell_text":"Named bosses (Compiler, Modified Locus, Tick Queen, and one unnamed)"},{"cell_text":"Leaked, unconfirmed"},{"cell_text":"NDA closed playtest"}]},{"cells":[{"cell_text":"Flash Boosts and shell-exclusive builds"},{"cell_text":"Leaked, unconfirmed"},{"cell_text":"NDA closed playtest"}]},{"cells":[{"cell_text":"A large underground Perimeter expansion"},{"cell_text":"Leaked, unconfirmed"},{"cell_text":"NDA closed playtest"}]},{"cells":[{"cell_text":"New weapons (V17, throwing knife, revolver) and Sponsored Kit upgrades"},{"cell_text":"Leaked, unconfirmed"},{"cell_text":"NDA closed playtest"}]}],"size":"default"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"
The line that matters for planning: Bungie has confirmed that<\/em> a full PvE mode lands in Season 3, and has not said when<\/em> inside the season. Everything describing how that mode plays \u2014 run structure, bosses, boosts \u2014 is playtest material, and a playtest is a build the studio was willing to change.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"title","heading":"Reading Between the Lines: What Bungie Hasn't Said","tag":"h2"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"
Bungie’s own coverage of Vault Breaker frames it plainly as gathering data ahead of the full system, and that’s exactly the kind of phrasing that should make you cautious about assuming Season 3’s PvE mode will look identical to what was live during the test. A time-limited test with unique Sponsored Kits and no gear extraction is a fundamentally different design space than a permanent mode sitting alongside standard extraction runs.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Day one or mid-season?<\/strong> Coverage agrees the PvE mode is coming in Season 3, but not when inside the season it actually unlocks.<\/li>\n
- Same Sponsored Kits?<\/strong> Whether the permanent mode keeps Vault Breaker’s kit system or replaces it with standard loadouts hasn’t been detailed.<\/li>\n
- Do the missed cosmetics return?<\/strong> Codex rewards tied to the closed test window may or may not reopen once Season 3’s version ships.<\/li>\n
- What’s in \u201cother content and surprises\u201d?<\/strong> Bungie’s own phrasing for the rest of the season is deliberately vague.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"title","heading":"Don't Mistake Vault Breaker for the Real Thing","tag":"h2"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"
It is tempting to treat the completed test as an exact preview of Season 3. That is the wrong read. Vault Breaker removed standard loot rules \u2014 no gear survived exfil except Vault Data<\/em> \u2014 which worked for a limited experiment but may not describe the permanent mode planned alongside Marathon<\/a>‘s core extraction loop.<\/p>\n
During the test, Hotfix 1.1.5.1 added a dedicated Solo queue with easier UESC encounters.<\/div>\nThat hotfix increased critical damage against UESC and reduced UESC aggression and accuracy for solo players. The adjustment shows how quickly Bungie iterated during Vault Breaker; it should not be treated as confirmation that Season 3 will reuse the exact same tuning or Sponsored Kit rules.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"table","headers":[{"header_text":""},{"header_text":"Vault Breaker (now)"},{"header_text":"Season 3 PvE (planned)"}],"rows":[{"cells":[{"cell_text":"Status"},{"cell_text":"Live, closes Aug 18"},{"cell_text":"Announced, undated within season"}]},{"cells":[{"cell_text":"Gear rules"},{"cell_text":"Left behind, only currency exfils"},{"cell_text":"Not yet detailed"}]},{"cells":[{"cell_text":"Squad size"},{"cell_text":"Solo, duo, or trio"},{"cell_text":"Not yet detailed"}]},{"cells":[{"cell_text":"Loadouts"},{"cell_text":"Sponsored Kits only"},{"cell_text":"Not yet detailed"}]}],"size":"small"},{"acf_fc_layout":"title","heading":"Two Weeks Left: Where to Spend What You Have","tag":"h2"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"
Vault Breaker has ended, so its currency, Armory purchases, and time-limited challenges are no longer actionable. During the event, Commander kills were the safest Tier 1 source because the payout did not require an exfil, while consecutive Vault clears and a successful exfil were required for Tier 2. That strategy is now historical context rather than a current checklist.<\/p>\n
If Bungie brings the activity back, verify the live reward table and deadline before following old farming routes; event currencies and weekly stock limits may change between versions.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"
Sources and Confidence<\/h2>\n
Separated by who actually said it, because that distinction is the whole value of this page.<\/p>\n
\n\n
Claim<\/th> Where it comes from<\/th> Status<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n Season 3 starts 22 September 2026; Season 2: Nightfall ends the same day<\/td> Bungie \u2014 Marathon Key Dates<\/a><\/td> Confirmed by the studio<\/td><\/tr>\n Perimeter rework, new Runner shell, new weapons and equipment<\/td> Same Bungie post<\/td> Confirmed by the studio<\/td><\/tr>\n A permanent PvE mode arrives in Season 3<\/td> Same Bungie post<\/td> Confirmed by the studio \u2014 launch timing inside the season not stated<\/td><\/tr>\n Vault Breaker ran 21 July \u2013 18 August 2026 after an extension, and its progress did not carry over<\/td> Bungie\u2019s own Vault Breaker coverage<\/td> Confirmed by the studio<\/td><\/tr>\n Run structure, named bosses, Flash Boosts, Sponsored Kit upgrades, unreleased weapons<\/td> Leaked NDA closed playtest, repeated by games media<\/td> Third-party reporting \u2014 not confirmed by Bungie<\/td><\/tr>\n Coverage of the above by Shacknews, SeasonDex, TheGamePost and GameRiv<\/td> Games media<\/td> Third-party reporting \u2014 these outlets relay Bungie, they are not the source<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n One honest caveat about our own citation.<\/strong> Bungie\u2019s site renders entirely in the browser, so the Key Dates post cannot be fetched and quoted by an automated check \u2014 the address above is the studio\u2019s and carries that title, but the wording in this article was taken when the post was read, not re-verified line by line today.<\/p>\n
Checked 4 September 2026.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"faq","items":[{"question":"When does Vault Breaker close?","answer":"Vault Breaker closed on August 18, 2026 after an extension from August 4. Unspent Vault Data and unfinished event progress expired when it ended."},{"question":"When does Marathon Season 3 start?","answer":"September 22, 2026, confirmed directly in Bungie's Key Dates blog post covering the end of Season 2."},{"question":"Does the full PvE mode launch with Season 3 on day one?","answer":"Unclear. Bungie has confirmed the mode is coming in Season 3 but hasn't said whether it's available immediately or arrives mid-season."},{"question":"Will my Vault Breaker gear carry into Season 3?","answer":"Items bought from the Vault Breaker Armory carried into standard Marathon. Unspent event currency and unclaimed progress expired when Vault Breaker closed on August 18."},{"question":"Do the balance changes from Update 1.1.5 apply outside Vault Breaker?","answer":"Yes. The D54 Battle Pistol nerf, V22 Volt Thrower buff, and the Loadout-Limited grenade cap apply to standard Marathon matches, not just the event."}]},{"acf_fc_layout":"title","heading":"The Bottom Line","tag":"h2"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":"
Vault Breaker is over. For Season 3, the confirmed pillars \u2014 the Perimeter revamp, a new Runner shell, new gear, and a permanent PvE mode \u2014 are worth planning around, but the exact form and launch timing of that PvE mode remain unconfirmed.<\/p>\n
\nSeason 3 starts September 22, 2026. Bungie has confirmed its outline, not every implementation detail, so the next official update should take priority over assumptions based on the completed Vault Breaker test.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n"}],"bottom":[{"acf_fc_layout":"more_articles","heading":"","posts":"","count":10},{"acf_fc_layout":"chat","heading":""}],"meta_description":"Marathon Season 3 starts 22 September 2026. What Bungie confirmed \u2014 Perimeter rework, new Runner shell, weapons and a permanent PvE mode \u2014 versus what only comes from a leaked closed playtest."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neonsect.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neonsect.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neonsect.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neonsect.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neonsect.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2782"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/neonsect.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2782\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4969,"href":"https:\/\/neonsect.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2782\/revisions\/4969"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neonsect.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neonsect.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neonsect.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neonsect.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2782"},{"taxonomy":"blog_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neonsect.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog_tag?post=2782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Same Sponsored Kits?<\/strong> Whether the permanent mode keeps Vault Breaker’s kit system or replaces it with standard loadouts hasn’t been detailed.<\/li>\n
- Day one or mid-season?<\/strong> Coverage agrees the PvE mode is coming in Season 3, but not when inside the season it actually unlocks.<\/li>\n