The Developer's Challenged Action Game Project Marathon Is Gaining Momentum

Marathon, the studio's highly-anticipated project, has resurfaced with the announcement of a closed technical test set to take place soon.

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 gaming showcase, Marathon has undergone a bumpy development cycle. Last fall, the developer announced it was aiming to start Alpha tests during the coming year. A period of silence followed, until the project was re-revealed in April with a planned September release. However, after some playtests led to mixed reactions, the studio announced in June that it was postponing the game's launch.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Despite Marathon has already encountered its portion of controversies, Bungie appears determined to ensure Marathon avoids the same outcome as other games. Currently, it appears the game's development is finally getting back on track, as Bungie just disclosed that it has conducted multiple private tests to gather feedback on Marathon" since this past summer. The developer is expanding access, enabling additional participants to catch a glimpse of the game via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

Given the fact that it's a private technical test, it's naturally more exclusive than, say, an public test. To participate in the exclusive trial — which takes place between Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to October 28th — participants must meet the listed pre-requisites:

• Apply via their platform
• Live in Europe or North America
• Own a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or S, or compatible computer (system requirements include an compatible CPU, supported graphics card, and 8GB RAM)
• Participate in the official Discord server
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the online community

How to Apply

Registration is currently available, and to be considered for the technical test, players 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 Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PDT, with Steam applications due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. Bungie will contact players who qualify and inform them of the next steps.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we test our improvements since Marathon's Alpha, including multiple locations, five runner shells, proximity communication, adjusted gameplay rhythm, solo queue, deeper environmental storytelling, and additional features," the studio stated. "However, the Technical Test build is a work in progress and will only include a portion of what's planned for Marathon's full release, focused on the initial gameplay moments."

Additional Information

More info about the private trial and the actual experience can be found on Marathon's help page. But for individuals who aren't selected for the test (or cannot participate), there's still good news: Bungie says a public update on the state of the game is the following item on the agenda once the trial concludes.

"We'll be sharing a public update on Marathon's development in the coming months after the private testing phase!" The studio announced.