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Marathon, the studio's much-anticipated project, has reared its head again with the news of a exclusive testing phase set to begin in October.

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 gaming showcase, Marathon has undergone a bumpy creation process. Last fall, the developer stated it was aiming to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the project was re-revealed in April with a planned September release. However, following initial testing led to mixed reactions, Bungie revealed during summer that it was postponing the game's launch.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Though the title has already seen its fair share of issues, the development team appears committed to make certain their project avoids the same outcome as other games. Now, it seems the game's development is moving forward again, as Bungie just revealed 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 game via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

Given the fact that it's a private technical test, it's naturally limited access than, say, an open beta. To participate in the exclusive trial — which runs from October 22nd to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — players must meet the following requirements:

• Apply via their platform
• Live in supported regions
• Own a PlayStation 5, Xbox console, 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

Application Process

Registration is currently available, and to be eligible for the private trial, players must complete registration by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. Players on Windows PC can also submit their application via Steam starting on October 13th, with Steam applications due by October 26th. Bungie will contact players who qualify and inform them of the next steps.

"This is an important checkpoint for us as we evaluate enhancements since the game's Alpha, including multiple locations, five runner shells, prox chat, adjusted gameplay rhythm, solo queue, enhanced narrative elements, and more," Bungie stated. "That said, the current version is a development build and will only include a selection of what's planned for Marathon's full release, focused on the initial gameplay moments."

Further Details

Additional details about the private trial and the actual experience can be located on the game's support section. But for individuals who don't qualify for the test (or don't have time), there's positive developments: The developer says a public update on the project's status is the following item on the schedule once the test is over.

"There will be a public update on Marathon's development in the coming months after the private testing phase!" The studio shared.