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Marathon, the studio's highly-anticipated game, has made a reappearance with the announcement of a closed technical test scheduled to begin in October.

A Rocky Development Journey

Initially revealed during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, the game has undergone a tumultuous creation process. Last fall, the developer stated plans were to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. 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

Despite the title has already encountered its fair share of controversies, Bungie appears determined to ensure Marathon avoids Concord's fate. Currently, it seems the game's development is finally getting back on track, as Bungie just revealed that it has run "several closed playtests to collect player input on the game" since this past summer. The studio is opening the doors a bit wider, enabling more players to catch a glimpse of the game via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Given the fact that it's a closed technical test, it's naturally more exclusive than, say, an public test. To gain access in the technical test — which takes place between Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — participants must meet the listed requirements:

• Submit an application via their platform
• Live in supported regions
• Have access to a PS5, Xbox console, or Windows PC (system requirements include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and 8GB RAM)
• Participate in the official Discord server
• Sign an NDA via the online community

Application Process

Applications are open now, and to be eligible for the private trial, players must complete registration by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. PC users can also register via Steam starting on Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PDT, with Steam applications due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. Bungie will contact selected participants and provide details of the following procedures.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we test our improvements since Marathon's Alpha, including multiple locations, five runner shells, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, solo queue, deeper environmental storytelling, and additional features," Bungie said. "However, the Technical Test build is a development build and will only include a selection of what's intended for the game's final version, concentrating on the early player experience."

Further Details

Additional details about the private trial and the game itself can be found on the game's support section. But for individuals who don't qualify for the test (or don't have time), there's still good news: The developer says a public update on the project's status is the next thing on the agenda once the trial concludes.

"There will be a comprehensive report on Marathon's development in the coming months after the Closed Technical Test!" The studio shared.