The Developer's Challenged Action Game Marathon Is Gaining Momentum

The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, the studio's much-anticipated game, has reared its head again with the news of a closed technical test set to begin in October.

A Rocky Development Journey

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

Steering Clear of Controversy

Despite Marathon has already seen its fair share of controversies, Bungie appears committed 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 disclosed that it has run "several closed playtests to gather feedback on Marathon" since this past summer. The studio is opening the doors a bit wider, allowing additional participants to catch a glimpse of the experience via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Given the fact that it's a private technical test, it's naturally limited access than, for example, an open beta. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which runs from October 22nd to October 28th — participants must satisfy the listed requirements:

• Apply via the official website
• Live in supported regions
• Own a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or S, or Windows PC (system requirements include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and sufficient memory)
• Participate in their community platform
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the online community

Application Process

Registration is currently available, and to be considered for the technical test, applicants must submit their application by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. Players on Windows PC can also submit their application via the digital platform starting on October 13th, with Steam applications due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. Bungie will notify players who qualify and inform them of the next steps.

"This is an important checkpoint for us as we evaluate enhancements since Marathon's Alpha, including multiple locations, five runner shells, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, solo queue, deeper environmental storytelling, and additional features," the studio said. "However, the current version is a work in progress and will only include a selection of what's intended for Marathon's final version, concentrating on the early player experience."

Further Details

More info about the technical test and the game itself can be found on the game's support section. But for players who aren't selected for the trial (or cannot participate), there's positive developments: Bungie says a official announcement on the state of the game is the following item on the schedule once the trial concludes.

"We'll be sharing a public update on Marathon's development in the coming months after the Closed Technical Test!" Bungie announced.