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The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, the studio's highly-anticipated game, has reared its head again with the announcement of a closed technical test set to run later this month.

A Challenging Path to Launch

First announced during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Marathon has undergone a bumpy creation process. In October 2024, Bungie announced plans were to begin alpha testing during the coming year. This was followed by quiet months, until the game was showcased again in April with a planned September release. However, after some playtests resulted in mixed reactions, Bungie revealed during summer that it was postponing the game's launch.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Though the title has already encountered its portion of controversies, the development team appears determined to ensure Marathon doesn't suffer the same outcome as other games. Currently, it seems the game's development is finally getting back on track, as Bungie just revealed that it has run "several closed playtests to gather feedback on the game" since June of this year. The developer is opening the doors a bit wider, allowing additional participants to get an early look of the experience via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

Considering it's a private technical test, it's understandably limited access than, say, an public test. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which runs from Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — participants must meet the following pre-requisites:

• Apply via their platform
• Live in Europe or North America
• Have access to a PS5, Xbox console, 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
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the online community

Application Process

Applications are open now, and to be eligible for the private trial, applicants must submit their application by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. PC users can also submit their application via the digital platform starting on October 13th, with Steam applications due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. The developer will contact players who qualify and inform them of the next steps.

"This is an important checkpoint for us as we evaluate enhancements since Marathon's Alpha, including three maps, five runner shells, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, individual matchmaking, enhanced narrative elements, and more," the studio said. "That said, the Technical Test build is a work in progress and will only include a selection of what's intended for the game's final version, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."

Further Details

More info about the private trial and the actual experience can be found on Marathon's help page. But for individuals who don't qualify for the test (or cannot participate), there's positive developments: The developer says a official announcement on the project's status is the following item on the schedule once the trial concludes.

"We'll be sharing a public update on the game's progress in the coming months after the private testing phase!" The studio shared.