Cryo Archive

Cryo Archive is Marathon's endgame map: a sprawling, labyrinthine space aboard the derelict UESC Marathon colony ship hanging in low orbit above Tau Ceti IV. It is the most challenging, most lore-rich, and most rewarding location in the game, accessible only on weekends to players who have proven their worth across the surface maps. Added in update 1.0.5 (March 20, 2026), it was unlocked via an ARG involving DCON terminals on Dire Marsh.

Unlock Requirements

All four conditions must be met simultaneously:

• Runner Level 25
• All 6 factions (CyberAcme, Arachne, Sekiguchi, MIDA, Traxus, NuCaloric) unlocked
• Minimum 5,000-Credit loadout value equipped
• Weekend availability only (Friday evening through Sunday)

The UESC Marathon Ship

The UESC Marathon was humanity's first extrasolar colony ship, built from the Martian moon Deimos. It carried 30,000 colonists to Tau Ceti IV and housed the three AIs, Durandal, Leela, and Tycho, whose stories are the foundation of Marathon lore dating back to 1994. Setting foot in Cryo Archive means entering the physical space that birthed one of gaming's most storied science fiction universes.

Key Zones

• Cryopod Bays: vast chambers filled with frozen colonist pods. The 30,000 missing settlers, or what remains of them.
• Medical Wing: ship's medical facilities. High concentration of rare consumables and implants.
• Frozen Vaults: sealed vault spaces containing the highest-tier gear in the game. Require progressive puzzle solutions.
• Command Deck: upper ship command infrastructure. Lore terminals and elite UESC commanders.

Notable Features

• Progressive vault puzzles require full squad communication and coordination.
• Sealed bulkheads and security lockdowns create dynamic, changing routes each session.
• Elite UESC guards significantly stronger than any surface equivalents.
• Combines environmental hazards from all three surface maps simultaneously.
• Thief's Pickpocket Drone can remotely open bulkheads, uniquely valuable here.