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The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, Bungie's much-anticipated game, has reared its head again with the announcement of a exclusive testing phase scheduled to take place soon.

A Rocky Development Journey

Initially revealed during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Marathon has experienced a bumpy creation process. Last fall, Bungie announced it was aiming to start Alpha tests during the coming year. This was followed by quiet months, until the project was showcased again in spring with a planned September release. However, after some playtests led to negative feedback, Bungie revealed during summer that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Despite the title has already seen its fair share of issues, the development team appears committed to ensure their project avoids Concord's fate. Now, it appears the project's progress is finally getting back on track, as Bungie just revealed that it has conducted multiple private tests to collect player input on Marathon" since June of this year. The developer is expanding access, enabling more players to get an early look 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 limited access than, say, an open beta. To participate in the technical test — which runs from Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to October 28th — players must satisfy the following requirements:

• Apply via their platform
• Live in supported regions
• Own a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or S, or Windows PC (system requirements include an compatible CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and 8GB RAM)
• Participate in their community platform
• Sign an NDA via the online community

Application Process

Registration is currently available, and to be considered for the private trial, players must submit their application by the October 16th deadline. PC users can also register via the digital platform starting on October 13th, with digital platform registrations due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. The developer will contact selected participants and provide details 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, proximity communication, adjusted gameplay rhythm, individual matchmaking, deeper environmental storytelling, and more," the studio stated. "That said, the current version is a development build and will only include a portion of what's planned for the game's full release, focused on the early player experience."

Further Details

Additional details about the private trial and the game itself can be located on the game's support section. But for individuals who aren't selected for the trial (or don't have time), there's positive developments: The developer says a official announcement on the project's status is the next thing on the agenda 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.