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Marathon, Bungie's highly-anticipated game, has resurfaced with the announcement of a closed technical test set to take place soon.

A Challenging Path to Launch

First announced during the 2023 gaming showcase, the game has experienced a bumpy creation process. Last fall, the developer 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 resulted in negative feedback, the studio announced in June that it was postponing the game's launch.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Despite Marathon has already encountered its portion of issues, Bungie appears committed to make certain their project avoids Concord's fate. Now, it appears the project's progress is finally getting back on track, as they just disclosed that it has run "several closed playtests to gather feedback on Marathon" since this past summer. The developer is expanding access, allowing additional participants to get an early look of the experience via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

Given the fact that it's a closed testing phase, it's understandably more exclusive than, say, an public test. To gain access in the technical test — which takes place between October 22nd to October 28th — players must meet the listed pre-requisites:

• Apply via their platform
• Live in Europe or North America
• Have access to a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or S, or compatible computer (system requirements include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and sufficient memory)
• Join the official Discord server
• Sign an NDA via the Discord server

How to Apply

Applications are open now, and to be eligible for the technical test, players must submit their application by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. PC users can also register via the digital platform starting on Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PDT, with digital platform registrations due by October 26th. The developer will notify selected participants and provide details of the following procedures.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we evaluate enhancements since Marathon's Alpha, including three maps, several character options, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, solo queue, deeper environmental storytelling, and additional features," Bungie said. "However, the Technical Test build is a work in progress and will only include a portion of what's planned for the game's final version, focused on the initial gameplay moments."

Additional Information

More info about the technical test and the actual experience can be found on the game's support section. But for players who don't qualify for the test (or don't have time), there's still good news: Bungie says a official announcement on the project's status is the next thing on the agenda once the trial concludes.

"There will be a comprehensive report on Marathon's development in the coming months after the private testing phase!" Bungie announced.