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The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, Bungie's highly-anticipated game, has reared its head again with the news of a exclusive testing phase scheduled to run later this month.

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Marathon has undergone a tumultuous development cycle. In October 2024, the developer stated it was aiming to begin alpha testing during the coming year. A period of silence followed, until the game was showcased again in spring with a planned September release. However, following initial testing led to mixed reactions, the studio revealed during summer that it was postponing the game's launch.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Though the title has already encountered its fair share of controversies, the development team appears determined to make certain their project avoids Concord's fate. Now, it appears the project's progress is finally getting back on track, as Bungie just disclosed that it has run "several closed playtests to collect player input on the game" since this past summer. The developer is opening the doors a bit wider, enabling more players 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 technical test, it's naturally more exclusive than, for example, an public test. To participate in the exclusive trial — which runs from Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to October 28th — players must meet the following pre-requisites:

• Apply via the official website
• Reside in supported regions
• Own a PS5, Xbox console, or compatible computer (minimum PC specs include an compatible CPU, supported graphics card, and 8GB RAM)
• Join the official Discord server
• Sign an NDA via the Discord server

Application Process

Applications are open now, and to be eligible for the technical test, players must submit their application by the October 16th deadline. PC users can also submit their application via Steam starting on October 13th, with Steam applications due by October 26th. Bungie will notify players who qualify and inform them of the following procedures.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we evaluate enhancements since the game's Alpha, including three maps, five runner shells, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, solo queue, enhanced narrative elements, and more," Bungie said. "However, the current version is a work in progress and will only include a portion of what's intended for Marathon's final version, concentrating on the early player experience."

Further Details

Additional details about the private trial and the actual experience can be found on Marathon's help page. But for players who don't qualify for the test (or cannot participate), there's positive developments: 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 private testing phase!" Bungie announced.