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

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 gaming showcase, Marathon has experienced a bumpy creation process. In October 2024, the developer announced plans were to start Alpha tests during the coming year. A period of silence followed, until the game was re-revealed in spring with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, following initial testing resulted in mixed reactions, Bungie announced in June that it was postponing the game's launch.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Despite Marathon has already encountered its fair share of controversies, Bungie appears determined to make certain their project avoids the same outcome as other games. Now, it seems the game's development is finally getting back on track, as Bungie just revealed that it has conducted multiple private tests to collect player input on the game" since June of this year. The developer is expanding access, enabling more players to get an early look of the game via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

Considering it's a private technical test, it's naturally limited access than, say, an public test. To gain access in the technical test — which takes place between October 22nd to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — players must satisfy the following requirements:

• Submit an application via their platform
• Reside in Europe or North America
• Have access to a PS5, Xbox console, or compatible computer (minimum PC specs include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, supported graphics card, and sufficient memory)
• Join their community platform
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the Discord server

Application Process

Registration is currently available, and to be considered for the technical test, applicants must complete registration by the October 16th deadline. PC users can also register via Steam starting on October 13th, with Steam applications due by October 26th. The developer will notify players who qualify and inform them of the next steps.

"This is an important checkpoint for us as we test our improvements since Marathon's Alpha, including multiple locations, five runner shells, prox chat, adjusted gameplay rhythm, individual matchmaking, deeper environmental storytelling, and more," Bungie stated. "That said, the current version is a development build and will only include a portion of what's intended for the game's final version, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."

Further Details

Additional details about the private trial and the actual experience can be found on Marathon's help page. But for individuals who aren't selected for the trial (or cannot participate), there's still good news: The developer says a official announcement on the state of the game is the following item on the agenda once the test is over.

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