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The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, the studio's highly-anticipated game, has reared its head again with the news of a closed technical test scheduled to run later this month.

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Marathon has undergone a bumpy development cycle. In October 2024, the developer announced it was aiming to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the game was re-revealed in April with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, following initial testing resulted in negative feedback, the studio announced in June that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Though the title has already seen its fair share of issues, the development team appears committed to make certain Marathon avoids Concord's fate. Now, it appears the project's progress is moving forward again, as Bungie just disclosed that it has run "several closed playtests to collect player input 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

Considering it's a closed testing phase, it's understandably more exclusive than, say, an open beta. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which takes place between October 22nd to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — participants must meet the listed pre-requisites:

• Apply via the official website
• Live in Europe or North America
• Have access to a PS5, Xbox Series X or S, or Windows PC (minimum PC specs include an compatible CPU, supported graphics card, and sufficient memory)
• Join the official Discord server
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the Discord server

How to Apply

Registration is currently available, and to be eligible for the technical test, applicants must complete registration 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 Steam applications due by October 26th. Bungie will contact players who qualify and provide details of the following procedures.

"This is an important checkpoint for us as we test our improvements since the game's Alpha, including multiple locations, five runner shells, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, individual matchmaking, 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 the game's full release, concentrating on the early player experience."

Further Details

More info about the technical test and the actual experience can be located on the game's help page. But for players who don't qualify for the test (or cannot participate), there's still good news: Bungie says a public update on the project's status is the next thing on the schedule once the test is over.

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