The Developer's Troubled Shooter Project Marathon Is Making a Comeback
Marathon, Bungie's highly-anticipated game, has made a reappearance with the announcement of a closed technical test scheduled to run later this month.
A Challenging Path to Launch
Initially revealed during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, the game has undergone a tumultuous development cycle. Last fall, the developer announced it was aiming to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. This was followed by quiet months, until the game was showcased again in spring with a planned September release. However, following initial testing resulted in negative feedback, the studio revealed during summer that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.
Avoiding Past Mistakes
Though Marathon has already encountered its portion of controversies, the development team appears determined to make certain their project avoids the same outcome as other games. 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 the game" since June of this year. The studio is expanding access, enabling additional participants to get an early look of the game via an forthcoming "closed technical test."
Exclusive Testing Information
Considering it's a closed technical test, it's naturally more exclusive than, say, an open beta. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which takes place between Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — players must meet the following requirements:
- Submit an application via their platform
- Live in supported regions
- Have access to a PlayStation 5, Xbox console, or compatible computer (minimum PC specs include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, supported graphics card, and sufficient memory)
- Join the official Discord server
- Sign an NDA via the Discord server
How to Apply
Registration is currently available, and to be considered for the private trial, applicants must complete registration by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. PC users can also register via the digital platform starting on October 13th, with digital platform registrations due by October 26th. The developer will notify selected participants and provide details of the following procedures.
"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we evaluate enhancements since Marathon's Alpha, including multiple locations, several character options, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, solo queue, enhanced narrative elements, and additional features," the studio stated. "However, the current version is a development build and will only include a selection of what's planned for Marathon's full release, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."
Further Details
More info about the technical test and the game itself can be found on Marathon's help page. But for players who don't qualify for the trial (or cannot participate), there's still good news: Bungie says a official announcement on the state of the game is the following item on the agenda once the test is over.
"We'll be sharing a public update on Marathon's development in the near future after the Closed Technical Test!" The studio shared.
