🔗 Share this article

Marathon, the studio's highly-anticipated project, has made a reappearance with the news of a exclusive testing phase set to take place soon.

A Rocky Development Journey

Initially revealed during the 2023 gaming showcase, the game has experienced a bumpy development cycle. In October 2024, the developer stated it was aiming to begin alpha testing sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the project was showcased again in April with a planned September release. However, following initial testing led to negative feedback, the studio revealed during summer that it was postponing the game's launch.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Despite Marathon has already encountered its fair share of controversies, Bungie appears determined to make certain Marathon avoids Concord's fate. Now, it seems the project's progress is moving forward again, as they just revealed that it has conducted multiple private tests to gather feedback on Marathon" since this past summer. The developer is expanding access, enabling more players to catch a glimpse of the experience via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Given the fact that it's a closed testing phase, it's understandably more exclusive than, for example, an open beta. To participate in the exclusive trial — which takes place between October 22nd to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — players must meet the listed pre-requisites:

• 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)
• Join their community platform
• Sign an NDA via the online community

How to Apply

Registration is currently available, and to be eligible for the private trial, players must submit their application by the October 16th deadline. Players on Windows PC can also register via the digital platform starting on October 13th, with digital platform registrations due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. Bungie will contact players who qualify and inform them of the next steps.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we test our improvements since Marathon's Alpha, including multiple locations, several character options, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, individual matchmaking, deeper environmental storytelling, and additional features," Bungie said. "That said, 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 initial gameplay moments."

Additional Information

More info about the technical test and the actual experience can be located on the game's support section. But for individuals who aren't selected for the test (or don't have time), there's positive developments: Bungie says a public update on the project's status is the next thing on the agenda once the test is over.

"We'll be sharing a comprehensive report on Marathon's development in the coming months after the Closed Technical Test!" The studio announced.