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Marathon, Bungie's much-anticipated project, has reared its head again with the news of a closed technical test set to run later this month.

A Rocky Development Journey

Initially revealed during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Marathon has experienced a bumpy development cycle. Last fall, the developer announced it was aiming to begin alpha testing sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the game was showcased again in spring with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, after some playtests led to mixed reactions, Bungie 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 determined to ensure their project avoids the same outcome as other games. Now, it seems the game's development is moving forward again, as they just disclosed that it has run "several closed playtests to gather feedback on Marathon" since June of this year. The developer is expanding access, allowing more players to get an early look of the experience via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Given the fact that it's a closed technical test, it's naturally more exclusive than, say, an public test. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which takes place between Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to October 28th — participants must satisfy the following pre-requisites:

• Apply via the official website
• Reside in supported regions
• Own a PS5, Xbox console, or Windows PC (system requirements include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, supported graphics card, and 8GB RAM)
• Participate in the official Discord server
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the Discord server

Application Process

Applications are open now, and to be eligible for the technical test, players must complete registration by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. PC users can also register via Steam starting on Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PDT, with Steam applications due by October 26th. Bungie will contact selected participants and provide details of the next steps.

"This is an important checkpoint for us as we test our improvements 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 stated. "However, the Technical Test build is a work in progress and will only include a selection of what's intended for the game's full release, focused on the initial gameplay moments."

Additional Information

Additional details about the technical test and the actual experience can be found on the game's support section. But for players who aren't selected for the test (or cannot participate), there's positive developments: The developer says a official announcement on the project's status is the next thing on the agenda once the trial concludes.

"There will be a public update on the game's progress in the near future after the Closed Technical Test!" Bungie shared.