🔗 Share this article

The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, Bungie's highly-anticipated project, has reared its head again with the announcement of a closed technical test scheduled to begin in October.

A Challenging Path to Launch

First announced during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, the game has experienced a bumpy creation process. Last fall, Bungie stated plans were to begin alpha testing during the coming year. This was followed by quiet months, until the game was re-revealed in April with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, after some playtests resulted in mixed reactions, the studio announced in June that it was postponing the game's launch.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Despite Marathon has already encountered its fair share of controversies, Bungie appears determined to make certain their project doesn't suffer Concord's fate. Currently, it seems the game's development is finally getting back on track, as Bungie just revealed that it has conducted multiple private tests to gather feedback on Marathon" since June of this year. The developer is opening the doors a bit wider, allowing more players to catch a glimpse of the experience via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

Considering it's a closed technical test, it's understandably limited access than, say, an public test. To participate in the technical test — which runs from October 22nd to October 28th — players must meet the following requirements:

• Apply via their platform
• Live in supported regions
• Own a PS5, Xbox Series X or S, or Windows PC (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

Registration is currently available, and to be eligible for the private trial, applicants must complete registration by the October 16th deadline. PC users can also register via the digital platform starting on Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PDT, with Steam applications due by October 26th. The developer will notify players who qualify and provide details of the following procedures.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we evaluate enhancements since the game's Alpha, including three maps, several character options, prox chat, adjusted gameplay rhythm, individual matchmaking, enhanced narrative elements, and additional features," the studio said. "However, the current version is a work in progress and will only include a portion of what's planned for the game's full release, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."

Additional Information

Additional details about the technical test and the actual experience can be found on Marathon's help page. But for players who don't qualify for the trial (or don't have time), there's still good news: Bungie says a official announcement on the state of the game is the next thing on the agenda once the trial concludes.

"There will be a comprehensive report on the game's progress in the coming months after the private testing phase!" Bungie announced.