🔗 Share this article

The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, the studio's much-anticipated game, has resurfaced with the news of a closed technical test scheduled to take place soon.

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 gaming showcase, the game has experienced a bumpy development cycle. Last fall, the developer stated plans were to begin alpha testing during the coming year. A period of silence followed, until the project was re-revealed in April with a planned September release. However, following initial testing led to negative feedback, Bungie announced in June that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Despite Marathon has already encountered its fair share of issues, the development team appears committed to make certain their project doesn't suffer Concord's fate. Now, it seems the project's progress is finally getting back on track, as Bungie just revealed that it has conducted multiple private tests to gather feedback on Marathon" since this past summer. The studio is opening the doors a bit wider, allowing more players to catch a glimpse of the experience via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

Given the fact that it's a closed technical test, it's understandably more exclusive than, say, an public test. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which takes place between Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to October 28th — players must meet the listed requirements:

• Submit an application via their platform
• Live in Europe or North America
• Own a PlayStation 5, Xbox console, or Windows PC (minimum PC specs include an compatible CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and 8GB RAM)
• Join the official Discord server
• Sign an NDA via the Discord server

Application Process

Registration is currently available, and to be eligible for the technical test, applicants must submit their application by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. Players on Windows PC can also submit their application via the digital platform starting on October 13th, with digital platform registrations due by October 26th. Bungie will notify selected participants and provide details of the following procedures.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we evaluate enhancements since the game's Alpha, including multiple locations, five runner shells, proximity communication, re-tuned combat pacing, solo queue, enhanced narrative elements, and more," Bungie stated. "However, the Technical Test build is a development build and will only include a selection of what's intended for Marathon's final version, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."

Further Details

More info about the technical test and the actual experience can be found on the game's support section. But for individuals who aren't selected for the trial (or cannot participate), there's positive developments: Bungie says a public update on the state of the game is the next thing on the agenda once the trial concludes.

"We'll be sharing a public update on Marathon's development in the near future after the private testing phase!" Bungie announced.