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Marathon, Bungie's much-anticipated game, has made a reappearance with the news of a closed technical test scheduled to run later this month.

A Challenging Path to Launch

Initially revealed during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Marathon has experienced a tumultuous development cycle. Last fall, Bungie stated plans were to start Alpha tests during the coming year. A period of silence followed, until the project was showcased again in April with a planned September release. However, after some playtests led to negative feedback, the studio revealed during summer that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Though Marathon has already seen its fair share of issues, the development team appears determined to make certain Marathon doesn't suffer the same outcome as other games. Currently, it seems the game's development is moving forward again, as they just disclosed that it has conducted multiple private tests to collect player input on Marathon" since this past summer. The developer is opening the doors a bit wider, allowing more players to get an early look of the game via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

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

• Apply via their platform
• Reside in Europe or North America
• Own a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or S, or compatible computer (minimum PC specs include an compatible CPU, supported graphics card, and 8GB RAM)
• Join their community platform
• Sign an NDA via the online community

How to Apply

Registration is currently available, and to be eligible for the technical test, players must complete registration by the October 16th deadline. PC users can also submit their application via Steam starting on October 13th, with Steam applications due by October 26th. Bungie will contact selected participants and inform them of the next steps.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we test our improvements since the game's Alpha, including three maps, five runner shells, proximity communication, re-tuned combat pacing, individual matchmaking, deeper environmental storytelling, and additional features," Bungie said. "That said, the Technical Test build is a development build and will only include a portion of what's planned for Marathon's full release, concentrating on the early player experience."

Additional Information

More info about the private trial and the actual experience can be located on Marathon's help page. But for players who don't qualify for the test (or cannot participate), there's positive developments: The developer says a official announcement on the state of the game is the following item on the schedule once the trial concludes.

"There will be a comprehensive report on the game's progress in the near future after the private testing phase!" The studio shared.