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Marathon, Bungie's much-anticipated game, has reared its head again with the announcement of a closed technical test set to take place soon.

A Challenging Path to Launch

Initially revealed during the 2023 gaming showcase, the game has experienced a tumultuous creation process. Last fall, Bungie stated it was aiming to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the project was showcased again in April with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, following initial testing led to mixed reactions, the studio announced in June that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Despite Marathon has already seen its portion of issues, Bungie appears committed to ensure Marathon doesn't suffer Concord's fate. Currently, 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 studio is opening the doors a bit wider, allowing more players to catch a glimpse of the game via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Considering it's a closed technical test, it's understandably limited access than, say, an public test. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which takes place between Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — participants must satisfy the following requirements:

• Submit an application via their platform
• Live in Europe or North America
• Own a PlayStation 5, Xbox console, or compatible computer (system requirements include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, supported graphics card, and 8GB RAM)
• Participate in their community platform
• Sign an NDA via the Discord server

Application Process

Applications are open now, and to be eligible for the private trial, applicants must submit their application by the October 16th deadline. Players on Windows PC can also register via Steam starting on Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PDT, with digital platform registrations due by October 26th. The developer will contact players who qualify and inform them of the following procedures.

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

Additional Information

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

"We'll be sharing a comprehensive report on the game's progress in the coming months after the private testing phase!" Bungie announced.