🔗 Share this article

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

A Challenging Path to Launch

First announced during the 2023 gaming showcase, the game has experienced a bumpy development cycle. Last fall, Bungie stated it was aiming to start Alpha tests during the coming year. A period of silence followed, until the game was re-revealed in April with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, after some playtests resulted in mixed reactions, Bungie revealed during summer that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Though the title has already encountered its portion of issues, the development team appears determined to make certain their project doesn't suffer the same outcome as other games. Currently, it seems the project's progress is finally getting back on track, as Bungie just disclosed that it has run "several closed playtests to gather feedback on the game" since this past summer. The studio is expanding access, allowing additional participants to catch a glimpse of the game via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Given the fact that it's a private testing phase, it's naturally limited access than, for example, an open beta. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which runs from Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to October 28th — participants must meet the listed pre-requisites:

• Submit an application via their platform
• Live in Europe or North America
• Own a PS5, Xbox Series X or S, or Windows PC (system requirements include an compatible CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and 8GB RAM)
• Join the official Discord server
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the Discord server

How to Apply

Registration is currently available, and to be considered for the private trial, applicants must complete registration by the October 16th deadline. PC users can also submit their application via Steam starting on Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PDT, with digital platform registrations due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. Bungie will contact selected participants and provide details of the next steps.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we evaluate enhancements since Marathon's Alpha, including three maps, five runner shells, prox chat, adjusted gameplay rhythm, individual matchmaking, deeper environmental storytelling, and more," Bungie said. "That said, the current version is a work in progress and will only include a selection of what's intended for the game's full release, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."

Further Details

More info about the private trial and the actual experience 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 public update on the state of the game is the next thing on the schedule once the test is over.

"We'll be sharing a comprehensive report on the game's progress in the coming months after the private testing phase!" Bungie shared.