During the free play week from December 8 to 15 on Bungie’s schedule, people who do not own Marathon can download and play the full game. Bungie launches Open Play Week alongside Symbiosis on December 8, bringing the Expedition PvE mode, Bishop Runner shell, a refreshed Perimeter map and new gear. Items and progress earned during the free week carry over if players buy the game afterward.
Expedition is a cooperative PvE mode with roguelite elements. Bungie describes it as the first phase of a permanent PvE experience. It gives players another way to explore and progress together alongside Extraction, where gathering loot also carries the risk of running into other player crews.
Symbiosis adds more ways to play together
The update also brings a social space with a firing range and an experimental Team Deathmatch mode for crews seeking direct PvP. Bungie is improving new-player onboarding as well. These additions are part of the content that moved from its previously planned September release into December’s Symbiosis update.
The accompanying Crew Up event asks friends to team up for Expedition challenges. Objectives begin simply and become more demanding as players progress. Completing them opens Codex entries for cosmetic rewards, including an emblem, background, weapon sticker and charm, and the Arata Vectus Destroyer skin.
Crew Up continues after free access ends
To participate, finish the starting tutorial and redeem DMA-T7Y-XJL on Bungie’s code redemption page once Symbiosis is live. An Events section in the Codex will then show the challenges. They require a crew with at least one other player who has redeemed the code.
Crew Up runs from December 8 at noon Pacific until December 22 at 10am Pacific, equivalent to December 9 at 3am through December 23 at 1am in Vietnam. Open Play Week ends December 15 on Bungie’s schedule. Players need to own Marathon to continue through the event’s remaining week.
Free-week players can also join Extraction to earn loot, experience and faction upgrades. Bungie confirms that those rewards and progression carry over when they purchase Marathon after the trial.
Sources · Bungie · Open Play Week · Bungie · Symbiosis · Gameplay trailer
