Bungie's Marathon Nightfall Refresh went live on October 6 with a full reset of player progression and the in-game economy. The update also adds a permanent Reward Pass at no extra cost to everyone who owns the game, adjusts weapons and Runner abilities, and lays out a rotating schedule of sponsored queues. Bungie has dated the larger Symbiosis update for December 8, when Marathon is due to get its first permanent PvE experience.
The October update is a real progression wipe
Bungie's roadmap says the Nightfall Refresh began on October 6. Logging in after the reset starts players over with no credits or equipment, and Cradle enhancements and Faction aftermarket upgrades return to their default state. Bungie says Season 2's progression and reward problems had pushed some players into endgame faster than others, making the extraction experience harder to enter and undermining the previous reset.
Players will need to rebuild their gear and progress after the wipe. Bungie says the reset gives everyone a common starting point and makes the economy active again.
The update is numbered 1.1.9.2. Bungie's accompanying patch notes document the gameplay changes, while its roadmap explains the larger reason for moving content from the previously planned September update into December. The studio also says it is moving away from strict seasonal deadlines so it can time major releases around development and testing.
Marathon Update 1.1.9.2 patch notesBungie's full notes for the live October 6 update.↗A permanent Reward Pass joins the refresh
The new pass takes inspiration from NuCal and is available at no additional cost to everyone who owns Marathon. Bungie says it is not time-limited, so players can work through it at their own pace. The roadmap does not list the full reward track or the exact amount of time required to complete it. Check the in-game pass before planning around a particular skin or unlock.
Players do not need to finish the pass during the Nightfall Refresh: Bungie says it has no time limit. It is part of the game update rather than a separate purchase. The free access applies to Marathon owners; the source does not describe a free game trial or a free-to-keep promotion for people who do not own it.
Bungie also made changes to the Repeater HPR and Hardline PR, and says the Magnum and DRRVSH should be less effective. Recon's Echo Pulse ability has been adjusted to reduce how oppressive or mandatory it felt during fights. The roadmap points readers to the full 1.1.9.2 patch notes for the complete set of changes.
What can players queue for first?
Bungie's October 6 roadmap names Perimeter and Dire Marsh as the first areas to explore after the wipe. Outpost is unavailable until Thursday, October 8. Cryo Archive returns in week two, starting Thursday, October 15, and is scheduled to run through Monday instead of ending on Sunday. Bungie also says it adjusted solo tuning so fighting UESC while alone should feel less punishing.
Sponsored Queues return each weekend from Thursday through Monday during the Nightfall period. The rotation begins with Sponsored Perimeter, then Sponsored Marsh in week two, followed by Sponsored Night Marsh in week three. The three-week pattern repeats until Symbiosis arrives. Regular Extraction remains available in each zone. Vault Breaker is set to return in week three, giving players another way to play Cryo Archive.
These dates are the schedule in Bungie's October 6 post. The article gives dates for the first return of Cryo Archive, but does not provide a fixed timezone or daily start time for each queue. Check the live game for the current activity schedule before organizing a session around a precise hour.
Symbiosis is planned for December 8
Bungie says Symbiosis will add Marathon's first permanent PvE experience on December 8. The update is planned to expand Perimeter with new paths and environments, add a new Runner shell called Bishop, improve onboarding, and introduce a social space with a firing range. It will also include an experimental Team Deathmatch mode.
Those features remain on a roadmap and are subject to change before release. The September development update described the shift from a planned September major update to the October refresh and December Symbiosis. Bungie says the smaller October release gives its team more time to build and test the larger additions. It also outlines a broader March step that would connect PvE, PvP and PvEvP experiences.
The Future of MarathonBungie's September vision for the game's next steps and March plans.↗ Marathon: Nightfall Refresh and Symbiosis RoadmapBungie's October 6 update lists the reset, pass, queue schedule and December roadmap.↗Frequently asked questions
What does Marathon's Nightfall Refresh reset?
Bungie says credits and equipment are removed, while Cradle enhancements and Faction aftermarket upgrades return to their default state.
Is the new Marathon Reward Pass free?
Yes. Bungie says it is available at no additional cost to everyone who owns Marathon and is not time-limited.
When does Cryo Archive return?
Bungie lists its week-two return for Thursday, October 15, with the schedule running through Monday instead of Sunday.
What is coming in Marathon Symbiosis?
Bungie has planned a permanent PvE experience, expanded Perimeter, the Bishop Runner shell, onboarding improvements, a social space and firing range, and experimental Team Deathmatch for December 8.
The reset is live, while the larger rebuild is still ahead
Nightfall Refresh gives Marathon a clean progression start and a non-expiring Reward Pass. The queue rotation fills the weeks before Symbiosis, which Bungie currently schedules for December 8. Players can check the live in-game schedule for queue availability and use the 1.1.9.2 patch notes for the full reset and balance details.
