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The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, Bungie's much-anticipated project, has made a reappearance with the news of a closed technical test scheduled to begin in October.

A Challenging Path to Launch

First announced during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Marathon has undergone a bumpy creation process. Last fall, the developer announced it was aiming to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the project was re-revealed in spring with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, after some playtests led to negative feedback, Bungie announced in June that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Despite Marathon has already encountered its portion of controversies, the development team appears determined to ensure their project doesn't suffer the same outcome as other games. Now, it seems the game's development is moving forward again, as Bungie just disclosed that it has conducted multiple private tests to gather feedback on Marathon" since June of this year. The studio is opening the doors a bit wider, enabling additional participants to catch a glimpse of the game via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Given the fact that it's a private technical test, it's understandably limited access than, for example, an public test. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which runs from October 22nd to October 28th — players must meet the listed requirements:

• Submit an application via their platform
• Live in Europe or North America
• Own a PlayStation 5, Xbox console, or compatible computer (minimum PC specs include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and 8GB RAM)
• Participate in their community platform
• Sign an NDA via the Discord server

How to Apply

Applications are open now, and to be considered for the private trial, players must complete registration by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. Players on Windows PC can also register via Steam starting on October 13th, with digital platform registrations due by October 26th. The developer will contact players who qualify and provide details of the next steps.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we test our improvements since Marathon's Alpha, including three maps, five runner shells, proximity communication, adjusted gameplay rhythm, solo queue, deeper environmental storytelling, and more," Bungie stated. "That said, the current version is a work in progress and will only include a selection of what's planned for the game's full release, focused on the initial gameplay moments."

Further Details

Additional details about the technical test and the actual experience can be located on Marathon's support section. But for players who don't qualify for the trial (or don't have time), there's still good news: The developer says a official announcement on the project's status is the next thing on the agenda once the test is over.

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