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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 set to begin in October.

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 gaming showcase, Marathon has undergone a tumultuous creation process. Last fall, the developer stated it was aiming to start Alpha tests during the coming year. This was followed by quiet months, until the project was re-revealed in spring with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, following initial testing resulted in negative feedback, the studio revealed during summer that it was postponing the game's launch.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Despite Marathon has already encountered its fair share of controversies, Bungie appears committed to make certain their project doesn't suffer Concord's fate. Now, it seems the game's development is moving forward again, as they just revealed that it has conducted multiple private tests to gather feedback on the game" since this past summer. The studio is expanding access, allowing additional participants to get an early look of the experience via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

Considering it's a closed testing phase, it's understandably limited access than, for example, an public test. To participate in the exclusive trial — which runs from Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — players must satisfy the listed requirements:

• Apply via their platform
• Reside in supported regions
• Own a PS5, Xbox console, or Windows PC (minimum PC specs include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and sufficient memory)
• 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 submit their application by the October 16th deadline. Players on Windows PC can also register via Steam starting on Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PDT, with digital platform registrations due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. The developer will contact selected participants and provide details of the next steps.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we test our improvements since Marathon's Alpha, including multiple locations, several character options, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, individual matchmaking, enhanced narrative elements, and more," the studio said. "However, the current version is a work in progress and will only include a selection of what's intended for Marathon's final version, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."

Additional Information

Additional details about the private trial and the game itself can be located on the game's help page. But for individuals who aren't selected for the test (or don't have time), there's positive developments: The developer says a official announcement on the state of the game is the next thing on the agenda once the trial concludes.

"We'll be sharing a comprehensive report on the game's progress in the near future after the private testing phase!" The studio announced.