Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • GamesRadar+ Replay
  • Mario Day deals
Don't miss these
Marathon destroyer runner shell using shield to block explosive
FPS Games Overwatch lead says using Steam player counts to dunk on Marathon is "big unemployed, maidenless behavior"
Marathon assassin runner shell holding knife
FPS Games Bungie doesn't want Marathon to repeat Destiny 2's vaulting controversy: "It doesn't matter when you join"
Marathon Introducing Sekiguchi agent Nona weaveworm
FPS Games Marathon Introducing Sekiguchi contract walkthrough and how to find the Necrotic Sample and scan your shell
Key art for Marathon showing a colorful cybernetic character with a gun taking cover
FPS Games Marathon review in progress: "Bungie has created my favorite multiplayer shooter in years"
Marathon outpost pinwheel base green keycard access clearance code
FPS Games All entrances to Pinwheel Base in Marathon
Marathon Runner crew fighting UESC bots
FPS Games All Marathon characters and Runners Shells ranked in a tier list
Marathon Sekiguchi agent nona talking about parasitism contracts
FPS Games Full walkthrough for the Marathon Parasitism contract for Sekiguchi
Marathon automaton looking up
FPS Games Marathon stays competitive with Arc Raiders and hits Steam with 91% 'Very Positive' reviews: "Bungie cooked"
Marathon Triage runner shell throwing out medic drone
FPS Games New Marathon patch seemingly makes the whole game a touch easier as Bungie nerfs UESC enemies, to fans' relief
Key art for Marathon showing a colorful cybernetic character with a gun taking cover
FPS Games Marathon is already the top-selling new game on Steam, dethroning Resident Evil Requiem
Marathon unlocking faction upgrade from CyberAcme
FPS Games How Marathon faction upgrades work and the best ones to get early
Marathon factions ONI agent for CyberAcme
FPS Games Here's a look at all six Marathon factions you'll get to do business for and how their contracts work
Marathon player using Hazard Override Card on red laptop for Tox Clear
FPS Games How to clear the toxic gas in Marathon Tox Clear events
Marathon UESC Recruit robot
FPS Games Possible fixes for Marathon error codes, including centipede, broccoli, marmot, stingray, tapir, and weasel
Marathon Introducing NuCaloric shooting tick nest in infested building
FPS Games Marathon Introducing NuCaloric contract walkthrough and how to find the employee ID card
  1. Games
  2. FPS Games
  3. Marathon

New Marathon update takes players closer to finally unlocking the Cryo Archive map, once they figure out more mind-bending puzzles

News
By Anthony McGlynn published 16 March 2026

The Cryo Archive will soon be open

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Marathon Recon and Triage shells shooting
(Image credit: Bungie)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
0
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


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?

GamesRadar+

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.

GTA 6 O'clock

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.

Knowledge

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.

The Setup

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.

Switch 2 Spotlight

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.

The Watchlist

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.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Something's afoot in Marathon, as Bungie's new FPS is leading players toward the trickiest map to date. A mysterious new area has been added to the menu, indicating the ongoing ARG will soon be ending, letting people into the Cryo Archive.

Made up of seven disparate puzzles, diehard Marathon-ers have been gradually solving each layer to unlock the next, with the seventh leading us to this fourth map. In classic Bungie fashion, these have been relatively esoteric challenges to work out, and actually getting properly started required a hint from the devs.

But now, there's real momentum, leading to six of the seven stages being done. You can't select Cryo Archive just yet, but per a Reddit post, a message when you try reveals the requirements to play it when it is available: work with all six Marathon factions, and get to at least level 25.

You may like
  • Marathon Thief runner shell controlling drone Marathon: Everything we know so far about the upcoming game
  • Marathon Marathon server slam leaves fans convinced a multi-colored shellfish is Bungie's next big community puzzle
  • Maps and Zones in Marathon All maps and zones in Marathon
A New Future Beyond the Sun — 4A.1 | Marathon - YouTube A New Future Beyond the Sun — 4A.1 | Marathon - YouTube
Watch On

Pretty straightforward, and a solid way to encourage people to poke around the lore a little bit and spend some proper time in the futuristic extraction shooter. If you're someone who has a few levels to go, making time for each of the six factions - Cyberacme, Nucaloric, Traxus, Mida, Arachne, and Sekiguchi - will get you much closer, if not over the line.

Having such a barrier for entry guarantees those who're putting the hours into their playtime get to first experience this particular playground of violence, and all the horrors and precious loot it has to offer. There'll be less trolling too, though you can never get rid of that entirely.

"This will prevent all the YouTuber influencer hate trolls from playing it," one commenter on Reddit states. "I wonder if each season you’ll need to climb back to level 25? I kinda hope you do to give you a purpose in climbing through the factions again outside of just faction upgrades," another Redditor muses.

Information we have on Cryo Archive is scant, other than that it's on an abandoned ship, and we still have to wait for the playerbase to figure the last part of this ARG. You can find a number of visuals on the official website and some neat videos on the official YouTube channel. I suspect we're going to find out what's frozen in there soon enough, for better and worse.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Overwatch senior dev says using Steam player counts to dunk on multi-platform releases like Marathon is "big unemployed, maidenless behavior"

TOPICS
Bungie
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming Xbox Series X PS5 Platforms Xbox PlayStation
Anthony McGlynn
Anthony McGlynn
Social Links Navigation
Contributing Writer

Anthony is an Irish entertainment and games journalist, now based in Glasgow. He previously served as Senior Anime Writer at Dexerto and News Editor at The Digital Fix, on top of providing work for Variety, IGN, Den of Geek, PC Gamer, and many more. Besides Studio Ghibli, horror movies, and The Muppets, he enjoys action-RPGs, heavy metal, and pro-wrestling. He interviewed Animal once, not that he won’t stop going on about it or anything.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Marathon Thief runner shell controlling drone
FPS Games Marathon: Everything we know so far about the upcoming game
 
 
Marathon
FPS Games Marathon server slam leaves fans convinced a multi-colored shellfish is Bungie's next big community puzzle
 
 
Maps and Zones in Marathon
FPS Games All maps and zones in Marathon
 
 
Marathon automaton looking up
FPS Games Bungie wants more feedback on Marathon's controversial UI to make sure players can "read what's happening mid-fight"
 
 
Marathon
FPS Games Marathon fans love that the FPS has decaying bodies, but the invisibility has them split: "Bungie, please reconsider"
 
 
Key art for Marathon showing a colorful cybernetic character with a gun taking cover
FPS Games Marathon is already the top-selling new game on Steam, dethroning Resident Evil Requiem
 
 
Latest in FPS Games
A close up of a blue woman Runner during the Marathon game PS5 reveal.
FPS Games Marathon lead shuts down claims that nobody who worked on Halo was involved in Bungie's latest FPS
 
 
Overwatch Jetpack Cat smiling smugly
FPS Games "What if we could just drop 30 new heroes into Overwatch?": Marvel Rivals "definitely had an impact" on Blizzard
 
 
Overwatch's Brigitte offers you a hand up.
FPS Games Overwatch director celebrates no longer being "the lowest-rated game on Steam" but he's not sure how to reach positive
 
 
Key art for Marathon showing a colorful cybernetic character with a gun taking cover
FPS Games Marathon review in progress: "Bungie has created my favorite multiplayer shooter in years"
 
 
Marathon unlocking faction upgrade from CyberAcme
FPS Games How Marathon faction upgrades work and the best ones to get early
 
 
Marathon Cutthroat Competition Traxus contract looting in maintenance
FPS Games How to find rod salvage for the Cutthroat Competition contract in Marathon
 
 
Latest in News
Pokemon Go
Pokemon With over 30 billion images logged, Pokemon Go is using players' activity to train its spinout AI company
 
 
A close up of a blue woman Runner during the Marathon game PS5 reveal.
FPS Games Marathon lead shuts down claims that nobody who worked on Halo was involved in Bungie's latest FPS
 
 
One Piece season 2
Live Action Shows One Piece's creator was "worried" about how Netflix was handling the live-action Chopper
 
 
Halloween Kills
Horror Movies Halloween star Jamie Lee Curtis says she wouldn't have returned for the Blumhouse sequel if she'd known it was a trilogy
 
 
Rhea Seehorn as Carol Sturka in Pluribus
Sci-Fi Shows Vince Gilligan initially planned for the Pluribus cast to be naked, but "we're not working for HBO"
 
 
Overwatch 1
Games Former Overwatch director has sage advice for those who complain about games they don't play: "Shut the f**k up"
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Pokemon Go
    1
    With over 30 billion images logged, Pokemon Go is using players' activity to train its spinout AI company to help GPS pinpointing: "I'm very focused on trying to re-create the real world"
  2. 2
    Marathon designer shuts down claims that nobody who worked on Halo was involved in Bungie's latest FPS: "Damn i'll have to tell this to Chris Butcher, and Jason Jones, and Tom Gioconda, and..."
  3. 3
    How multiplayer works In Slay The Spire 2
  4. 4
    How To unlock all characters In Slay The Spire 2
  5. 5
    The best Slay The Spire 2 characters ranked tier list

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...