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Bungie Opens Marathon’s Cryo Archive Today as Weekend-Only Raid-Style Endgame

The release follows a community ARG that culminated in 500 million UESC kills to gain access.

Overview

  • Live date is March 20 at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET, with the activity available only on weekends going forward.
  • Entry is gated to premade trios meeting strict criteria: Runner level 25, all six factions unlocked, and a minimum 5,000‑credit loadout, with a one-time Sponsored Kit to ease first attempts.
  • Cryo Archive spans six interconnected wings and seven Vaults featuring raid-like puzzles, high-value rewards, and tougher, less reliable exfil rules than planet-side zones.
  • The zone unlocked after players solved a multi-step ARG and collectively recorded 500 million UESC robot kills tracked by a fan-made API, prompting Bungie’s “Access granted” confirmation and launch trailer.
  • Game director Joe Ziegler says the weekend window is intended to protect the loot economy, concentrate matchmaking queues, and give players time to rebuild gear, with potential adjustments under consideration.