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Marathon, the studio's highly-anticipated project, has resurfaced with the news of a closed technical test set to take place soon.

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, the game has undergone a bumpy development cycle. In October 2024, Bungie announced it was aiming to begin alpha testing during the coming year. A period of silence followed, until the game was showcased again in April with a planned September release. However, after some playtests led to negative feedback, Bungie announced in June that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Though the title has already encountered its fair share of controversies, Bungie appears committed to make certain their project doesn't suffer Concord's fate. Now, it seems the game's development is finally getting back on track, as Bungie just disclosed that it has run "several closed playtests to collect player input on the game" since June of this year. The developer is opening the doors a bit wider, enabling more players to get an early look of the game via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

Considering it's a private technical test, it's understandably limited access than, for example, an public test. To participate in the technical test — which runs from October 22nd to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — players must satisfy the following requirements:

• Apply via their platform
• Reside in Europe or North America
• Have access to a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or S, or compatible computer (minimum PC specs 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, applicants must submit their application by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. PC users can also submit their application via the digital platform starting on October 13th, with Steam applications due by October 26th. Bungie will contact players who qualify and provide details of the following procedures.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we test our improvements since Marathon's Alpha, including three maps, several character options, prox chat, adjusted gameplay rhythm, solo queue, enhanced narrative elements, and more," 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 full release, focused on the early player experience."

Additional Information

Additional details about the technical test and the game itself can be found on Marathon's help page. But for players who don't qualify for the trial (or don't have time), there's still good news: Bungie says a official announcement on the project's status is the next thing on the agenda once the trial concludes.

"We'll be sharing a public update on Marathon's development in the coming months after the private testing phase!" Bungie announced.