There is nothing like Marathon's Cryo Archive map

There is nothing like Marathon’s Cryo Archive map | PC Gamer Skip to main content Open menu Close main menu PC Gamer THE GLOBAL AUTHORITY ON PC GAMES US Edition UK US Canada Australia Subscribe Sign in View Profile Sign out Search Search PC Gamer Games Hardware News Reviews Guides Video Forum More PC Gaming Show PC Gamer Clips Software Codes Coupons Movies & TV Magazine Newsletter Affiliate links Meet the team Community guidelines About PC Gamer PC Gamer Magazine SubscriptionWhy subscribe?Subscribe to the world’s #1 PC gaming magTry a single issue or save on a subscriptionIssues delivered straight to your door or device From$1Subscribe now Don’t miss these FPS Marathon’s Outpost is an extraction map masterclass that has me even more excited for Cryo Archive FPS Players have rallied together to solve the first stage of Marathon’s elaborate Cryo Archive ARG puzzle, and it’s revealed some creepy footage of the next map FPS Marathon community crushes Cryo Archive puzzle, unlocks release date, and learns the map is only playable on weekends FPS Marathon nerfs the shotgun everyone is using, reverts sound back to normal, and sets the stage for Cryo Archive FPS Marathon ignores extraction shooter ‘rules’ and is better for it FPS Marathon day two check-in: Into the Outpost, an overpowered shotgun, and why I love doors FPS The Marathon server slam consumed my weekend: 21 hours later, I’ve gone from ‘meh’ to believer FPS Is Marathon’s time-to-kill too fast, or am I too Arc Raiders-pilled? FPS If you’re hoping to make friends in Marathon like you can in Arc Raiders, expect a knife in the back FPS Bungie admits Marathon’s weekend-heavy endgame means ‘there are likely some who cannot participate’ FPS Marathon’s creative director says Bungie ‘wanted to push the boundaries of what an extraction shooter can do with its story’ as it goes head to head with Arc Raiders’ evolving world FPS Bungie has learned its lesson about vaulting content in Destiny 2 and won’t be so cruel with Marathon: ‘It doesn’t matter when you join’ FPS Oh no: You can attach claymores to Thief’s drones in Marathon, and it’s just as hellish as it sounds FPS Marathon secret hunters hit their first gold mine: Spooky terminals, a hidden website, and a Durandal audio log FPS Marathon day one check-in: Thief impressions, broken Deluxe Edition bonuses, and so many Assassins Popular PC Gamer ClipsCrimson DesertMarathonBest PC gearGDCQuizzes Games FPS Marathon There is nothing like Marathon’s Cryo Archive map Features By Morgan Park published 23 March 2026 It’s a raid. It’s a heist. It’s Marathon. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Bungie) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter PC Gamer The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Want to add more newsletters? Every Friday GamesRadar+ Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you’re going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them. Signup + Every Thursday GTA 6 O’clock Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O’clock experts. Signup + Every Friday Knowledge From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what’s on the horizon. Signup + Every Thursday The Setup Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more. Signup + Every Wednesday Switch 2 Spotlight Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo’s new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play. Signup + Every Saturday The Watchlist Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we’ve got you covered. Signup + Once a month SFX Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month! Signup + An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Part of me was dreading the arrival of Marathon’s fourth map, Cryo Archive. The promise of an endgame zone that resembled the puzzle box raids Bungie is known for sounded amazing, but I wasn’t sold on the fun of getting shotgunned in the back by a kitted-up Assassin while just trying to sort out a locked door. Maybe Marathon would benefit from a purely PvE zone to balance out its ruthlessness?I should’ve had a little more faith in Bungie. Cryo Archive is an astounding labyrinth across a haunted planet-sized spaceship that plays nothing like the other three maps in Marathon, nor like any other competitive map in shooters period. It bridges the gap between PvE and PvP brilliantly, and makes me wonder why this is the first game of its type to have this much fun with map design.If you’ve yet to venture into the “lose everything factory”, Cryo Archive is a weekends-only event map with special requirements for entry: You must be level 25, unlock all six factions, play with a full squad of three (no Rooks allowed), and build a loadout worth at least 5,000 credits.Article continues below You may like Marathon’s Outpost is an extraction map masterclass that has me even more excited for Cryo Archive Players have rallied together to solve the first stage of Marathon’s elaborate Cryo Archive ARG puzzle, and it’s revealed some creepy footage of the next map Marathon community crushes Cryo Archive puzzle, unlocks release date, and learns the map is only playable on weekends Bungie calls it an “endgame” experience, which is misleading, as you can play it long before you max out your rep with factions or even become particularly rich. It’s better to think of Cryo Archive as the last “big” thing to do in Marathon before you’ve essentially seen it all—though I’ve barely scratched the surface of this gargantuan map after a handful of runs.Teams are dropped into opposite corners of the snaking cryo facility, and the first thing you learn is that doors do not simply open here. Cryo has a unique “Security Clearance” mechanic (that it forces you to figure out yourself, of course) that unlocks more of the map as you raise your clearance. Security Cle