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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 take place soon.

A Challenging Path to Launch

First announced during the 2023 gaming showcase, the game has undergone a bumpy development cycle. In October 2024, Bungie stated it was aiming to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. This was followed by quiet months, until the game was re-revealed in spring with a planned September release. However, after some playtests resulted in negative feedback, Bungie revealed during summer that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Despite the title has already seen its portion of controversies, Bungie appears determined to ensure Marathon doesn't suffer Concord's fate. Currently, it appears the game's development is moving forward again, as they just revealed that it has conducted multiple private tests to gather feedback on Marathon" since June of this year. The developer is opening the doors a bit wider, allowing additional participants to catch a glimpse of the experience via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Given the fact that it's a closed testing phase, it's understandably limited access than, for example, an open beta. To gain access in the technical test — which runs from October 22nd to October 28th — participants must satisfy the following pre-requisites:

• Submit an application via their platform
• Reside in supported regions
• Own a PS5, Xbox Series X or S, or compatible computer (minimum PC specs include an compatible CPU, supported graphics card, and sufficient memory)
• Join the official Discord server
• Sign an NDA via the Discord server

How to Apply

Registration is currently available, and to be eligible for the technical test, applicants must submit their application by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. Players on Windows PC can also register via the digital platform starting on Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PDT, with Steam applications due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. Bungie will notify players who qualify and provide details of the following procedures.

"This is an important checkpoint for us as we evaluate enhancements since Marathon's Alpha, including multiple locations, five runner shells, proximity communication, re-tuned combat pacing, solo queue, enhanced narrative elements, and more," Bungie said. "That said, the current version is a work in progress and will only include a portion of what's intended for the game's final version, focused on the early player experience."

Further Details

Additional details about the private trial and the game itself can be found on the game's help page. But for players who don't qualify for the test (or don't have time), there's positive developments: The developer says a official announcement on the state of the game is the next thing on the agenda once the trial concludes.

"We'll be sharing a public update on Marathon's development in the near future after the private testing phase!" The studio announced.