Nightfall Refresh reset progression and the in-game economy in Marathon on October 6, 2026. The update wiped Runner, Cradle and Faction levels, Priority Contracts, Rank, Vault contents and zone access. According to Bungie, credits, equipment and upgrades were also returned to their starting state.
Symbiosis is scheduled for December 8, 2026 and represents a different step: Bungie plans the game’s first permanent PvE experience, a larger Perimeter, the Bishop shell, experimental Team Deathmatch and a social space with a firing range. As of this article’s October 22 research date, these features had not launched.
Exactly what Nightfall Refresh reset
The official 1.1.9.2 patch notes define the scope of the wipe. The table compares the previous state with the effect announced for October 6, without assuming losses in categories Bungie did not name.
| System | Before October 6 | After the reset |
|---|---|---|
| Runner, Cradle and Faction levels | Progress previously earned by players. | Levels reset; Cradle enhancements and Faction aftermarket upgrades restored to default. |
| Credits and equipment | Currency and resources gathered during runs. | Credits and equipment consumed by the economy reset, as explained through ONI’s in-game message. |
| Priority Contracts | Contracts and progress from the previous period. | Priority Contracts reset. |
| Rank | Rank previously attained. | Rank reset. |
| Vault | Items held in storage. | Vault contents wiped. |
| Zone access | Areas unlocked through earlier progression. | Zone unlocks reset. |
Bungie said the purpose of the wipe was to bring players back to a more comparable starting point. The studio acknowledged that Season 2, Nightfall, had pacing problems: some players reached endgame activities too quickly while others fell behind. Its published reset list should not be stretched into a claim that absolutely everything on an account was deleted.
The economy and moment-to-moment gameplay changed too
The new NuCaloric Rewards Pass arrived at no additional cost to anyone who owns Marathon, with no deadline for completion. The update also increased XP earned from defeating UESC forces and lowered Faction reputation requirements to better fit the shorter duration of this release.
The patch specifies 30% more Cradle XP for the duration of Nightfall Refresh, a 30% reduction in credit prices for most Armory wares, and 20% to 50% lower salvage costs for most barters. These changes alter how resources are earned and spent; they do not promise an economy that will never be reset again.
Solo players received relief against the UESC: enemy aggression was reduced, and enemy damage fell by 20% in solo playlists. Weapons and Runner shells were rebalanced as well. Recon’s Echo Pulse, for example, now scans a cone in the direction the player aims rather than an omnidirectional sphere. The Repeater HPR, Hardline PR, Magnum MC and DRRVSH also received adjustments.
October activities are not December’s permanent PvE
Cryo Archive returned to its weekly schedule starting October 15, running from Thursday through Monday. Sponsored queues rotate across Perimeter, Dire Marsh and Night Marsh in a three-week sequence, also from Thursday through Monday, while regular Extraction stays available in those zones. Update 1.1.9.5 confirmed Sponsored Night Marsh starting October 22.
Vault Breaker is a limited-time activity. Although the initial notes listed November 9 as its end date, Bungie corrected the schedule in version 1.1.9.5: the announced window is October 20 through November 10, 2026. Vault Breaker’s return during the refresh should therefore not be mistaken for the permanent PvE mode planned for Symbiosis.
What Symbiosis is adding on December 8
In its October 6 roadmap, Bungie distinguished the features planned for December from the changes already live in Nightfall Refresh. The announced additions are:
- Permanent PvE: a dedicated way to explore Tau Ceti IV, take on challenges and pursue loot without worrying about being hunted by other Runners. Bungie is still finalizing parts of the mode and has not explained every rule.
- Expanded Perimeter: a fungal ecosystem reshapes the environment and opens new routes. New points of interest and challenges are intended to offer rare rewards; the studio has identified a boss encounter with the Tick Queen.
- Bishop: a new Runner shell built around speed, surprise and bursts of melee damage.
- Team Deathmatch: an experimental PvP mode for more direct combat without risking an entire extraction run.
- Social space and onboarding: a CyAc-sponsored area with an integrated firing range, plus improvements that teach newcomers the basics and other quality-of-life adjustments.
December 8 was Bungie’s announced release date as of October 22, not proof that players can already access the update. Full details of the PvE experience and its rules remain subject to further developer information.
What remains planned for March 2027
March is a third stage, not an automatic part of the December package. Bungie plans to connect permanent PvE, PvP and PvEvP experiences, deepen shell progression, refactor the Cradle, add more narrative-driven questlines, introduce new alien combatants and open an entirely new zone. No specific March release day has been announced.
There is a scheduling reason for the split. The larger update originally expected on September 22 moved to December 8, while October 6 received a more focused refresh. Bungie said it was moving away from rigid seasonal deadlines for major releases. For players, the distinction is straightforward: October rebuilt the starting point; December is intended to expand the ways to play; March is meant to connect those systems.
Sources and references
- Bungie, Nightfall Refresh and Symbiosis roadmap, October 6, 2026
- Bungie, update 1.1.9.2 patch notes, October 6, 2026
- Bungie, update 1.1.9.5 patch notes, October 20, 2026
- Bungie, development update, September 14, 2026 (Brazilian Portuguese)
- Bungie, The Future of Marathon, September 24, 2026 (Brazilian Portuguese)
