🔗 Share this article

The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, the studio's highly-anticipated project, has resurfaced with the news of a exclusive testing phase scheduled to begin in October.

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, the game has undergone a tumultuous creation process. Last fall, Bungie stated plans were to start Alpha tests during the coming year. A period of silence followed, until the project was showcased again in spring with a planned September release. However, following initial testing resulted in negative feedback, the studio revealed during summer that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Though Marathon has already seen its portion of controversies, Bungie appears determined to make certain their project doesn't suffer Concord's fate. Now, it appears the project's progress is finally getting back on track, as they just revealed that it has conducted multiple private tests to collect player input on the game" since this past summer. The developer is expanding access, allowing more players to catch a glimpse of the experience via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

Considering it's a closed technical test, it's naturally limited access than, for example, an public test. To participate in the exclusive trial — which takes place between Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to October 28th — players must meet the following pre-requisites:

• Submit an application via the official website
• Reside in Europe or North America
• Own a PlayStation 5, Xbox console, or Windows PC (minimum PC specs include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, supported graphics card, and sufficient memory)
• Join their community platform
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the online community

How to Apply

Applications are open now, and to be eligible for the private trial, players must complete registration by the October 16th deadline. Players on Windows PC can also submit their application via the digital platform starting on October 13th, with digital platform registrations due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. Bungie will notify selected participants and provide details of the following procedures.

"This is an important checkpoint for us as we evaluate enhancements since the game's Alpha, including three maps, five runner shells, proximity communication, adjusted gameplay rhythm, individual matchmaking, enhanced narrative elements, and additional features," Bungie stated. "However, the current version is a work in progress and will only include a portion of what's intended for Marathon's full release, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."

Further Details

Additional details about the private trial and the actual experience can be located on the game's support section. But for players who don't qualify for the test (or don't have time), there's positive developments: The developer says a public update on the project's status is the following item on the agenda once the test is over.

"There will be a comprehensive report on Marathon's development in the near future after the private testing phase!" Bungie announced.