Bungie is preparing another notable update for Marathon, with Update 1.1.5.4 scheduled to arrive on August 18. Alongside a mysterious weapon teaser and another experimental activity, the developer has confirmed that Ranked maps are getting a major loot adjustment designed to make successful runs feel more rewarding.
In brief
- Marathon Update 1.1.5.4 arrives on August 18.
- Bungie has teased what appears to be a new explosive weapon.
- A new experimental activity will arrive as Vault Breaker ends.
- Ranked maps will receive significantly more blue and purple loot.
Marathon Teases an Explosive New Weapon
The official Marathon account has dropped a short teaser for the upcoming patch with the message, “Next week’s update is a blast.” The accompanying footage appears to show a new weapon capable of producing a powerful explosion, leading players to speculate that Bungie could be introducing some form of explosive sniper rifle or heavy weapon.
Bungie has not officially revealed the weapon’s name, stats, rarity, or exact function yet, so its identity remains a mystery for now.
Update 1.1.5.4 will also coincide with the end of Vault Breaker, Marathon’s experimental PvE-focused activity. Bungie confirmed that Vault Breaker will wrap up with the daily reset on August 18.
However, experimentation is not stopping there. The development team says another smaller experiment will arrive on the same day, with additional information expected closer to launch.
So, Bungie is continuing to test different ways of expanding Marathon beyond its standard extraction format while gathering feedback from players.
Marathon Ranked Maps Are Getting Better Loot
Ranked players are also getting a significant economy change in Update 1.1.5.4. Bungie says Ranked maps will begin using the same more generous loot logic currently found in Cryo Archive. Players should consequently find more equipment during Ranked runs, including a noticeable increase in blue and purple gear.
According to Bungie, the goal is to provide crews with more opportunities to secure valuable equipment and improve their chances of reaching a successful exfil without removing the risk and decision-making that define Ranked matches. Bungie says it will monitor the change closely and adjust things based on player feedback.
