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Marathon, Bungie's highly-anticipated project, has made a reappearance with the announcement of a exclusive testing phase scheduled to begin in October.

A Challenging Path to Launch

Initially revealed during the 2023 gaming showcase, the game has undergone a bumpy creation process. In October 2024, the developer stated it was aiming to begin alpha testing during the coming year. This was followed by quiet months, until the project was re-revealed in April with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, after some playtests led to mixed reactions, Bungie revealed during summer that it was postponing the game's launch.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Despite Marathon has already encountered its fair share of issues, Bungie appears committed 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 conducted multiple private tests to gather feedback on Marathon" since June of this year. The developer is expanding access, allowing additional participants to catch a glimpse of the game via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Considering it's a closed technical test, it's understandably limited access than, say, an open beta. To gain access in the technical test — which runs from Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — players must meet the listed pre-requisites:

• Submit an application via the official website
• Reside in Europe or North America
• Have access to a PlayStation 5, Xbox console, or compatible computer (minimum PC specs include an compatible CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and sufficient memory)
• 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 technical test, players must complete registration by the October 16th deadline. PC users can also submit their application via Steam starting on October 13th, with Steam applications due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. Bungie will notify selected participants and inform them 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, adjusted gameplay rhythm, solo queue, enhanced narrative elements, and additional features," Bungie stated. "That said, the Technical Test build is a work in progress and will only include a portion of what's intended for the game's full release, focused on the early player experience."

Further Details

More info about the technical test and the game itself can be found on the game's help page. But for players who aren't selected for the trial (or don't have time), there's positive developments: Bungie says a official announcement on the state of the game is the next thing on the agenda once the test is over.

"There will be a comprehensive report on Marathon's development in the near future after the Closed Technical Test!" Bungie shared.