The Developer's Challenged Action Game Marathon Is Making a Comeback

The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, Bungie's much-anticipated project, has made a reappearance with the announcement of a exclusive testing phase scheduled to begin in October.

A Challenging Path to Launch

Initially revealed during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Marathon has undergone a bumpy creation process. Last fall, Bungie announced plans were to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the game was showcased again in April with a planned September release. However, after some playtests led to mixed reactions, the studio revealed during summer that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Despite the title has already seen its portion of issues, Bungie appears committed to ensure their project avoids the same outcome as other games. Currently, it seems the game's development is moving forward again, as they 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 experience via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Given the fact that it's a private testing phase, it's naturally 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 satisfy the following pre-requisites:

• Apply 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 8GB RAM)
• Participate in their community platform
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the Discord server

Application Process

Applications are open now, and to be eligible for the private trial, players must complete registration by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. Players on Windows PC 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 following procedures.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we test our improvements since the game's Alpha, including three maps, several character options, proximity communication, re-tuned combat pacing, solo queue, deeper environmental storytelling, and additional features," the studio said. "That said, the current version is a development build and will only include a selection of what's planned for Marathon's final version, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."

Additional Information

More info about the technical test and the actual experience can be located on the game's support section. But for individuals who don't qualify for the test (or cannot participate), there's still good news: The developer says a official announcement on the project's status is the following item on the agenda once the test is over.

"There will be a comprehensive report on Marathon's development in the near future after the Closed Technical Test!" Bungie announced.