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Marathon, Bungie's much-anticipated project, has made a reappearance with the news of a exclusive testing phase scheduled to run later this month.

A Challenging Path to Launch

First announced during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Marathon has undergone a bumpy development cycle. In October 2024, Bungie announced it was aiming to begin alpha testing during the coming year. This was followed by quiet months, until the game was re-revealed in spring with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, following initial testing led to negative feedback, Bungie revealed during summer that it was postponing the game's launch.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Despite the title has already encountered its portion of controversies, the development team appears determined to make certain their project avoids Concord's fate. Now, it seems the game's development is finally getting back on track, as they just revealed that it has conducted multiple private tests to gather feedback on the game" since June of this year. The studio is opening the doors a bit wider, enabling more players to catch a glimpse of the experience via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Given the fact that it's a closed testing phase, it's naturally more exclusive than, say, an open beta. To gain access in the technical test — which runs from Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — players must satisfy the following pre-requisites:

• Apply via the official website
• Reside in supported regions
• Own a PS5, Xbox Series X or S, or Windows PC (system requirements include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and 8GB RAM)
• Join 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 Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. Players on Windows PC can also submit their application via the digital platform starting on October 13th, with Steam applications due by October 26th. The developer will contact selected participants and provide details of the next steps.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we evaluate enhancements since Marathon's Alpha, including multiple locations, five runner shells, proximity communication, re-tuned combat pacing, solo queue, enhanced narrative elements, and more," the studio said. "That said, the current version is a development build and will only include a portion of what's planned for Marathon's full release, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."

Additional Information

More info about the private trial and the game itself can be located on Marathon's support section. But for players who aren't selected for the trial (or don't have time), there's still good news: Bungie says a public update on the state of the game is the following item on the agenda once the trial concludes.

"There will be a public update on Marathon's development in the coming months after the Closed Technical Test!" Bungie announced.