Bungie's Challenged Shooter Marathon Is Making a Comeback

The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, Bungie's highly-anticipated project, has reared its head again with the announcement of a closed technical test scheduled to take place soon.

A Challenging Path to Launch

Initially revealed during the 2023 gaming showcase, the game has undergone a tumultuous development cycle. Last fall, Bungie announced plans were to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. This was followed by quiet months, until the project was showcased again in spring with a planned September release. However, following initial testing led to mixed reactions, the studio revealed during summer that it was postponing the game's launch.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Despite the title has already encountered its fair share of controversies, Bungie appears determined to make certain their project avoids Concord's fate. Now, it appears the project's progress is moving forward again, as Bungie just disclosed that it has run "several closed playtests to gather feedback on the game" since this past summer. The developer is opening the doors a bit wider, enabling more players to get an early look of the experience via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Given the fact that it's a closed testing phase, it's understandably limited access than, for example, an public test. To participate in the exclusive trial — which runs from Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to October 28th — participants must meet the listed requirements:

• Submit an application via the official website
• Live in Europe or North America
• Own a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or S, or compatible computer (minimum PC specs include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and sufficient memory)
• Join the official Discord server
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the Discord server

Application Process

Registration is currently available, and to be eligible for the technical test, players must submit their application by the October 16th deadline. Players on Windows PC can also register via Steam starting on October 13th, with digital platform registrations due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. The developer will notify selected participants and inform them of the following procedures.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we test our improvements since the game's Alpha, including multiple locations, several character options, proximity communication, re-tuned combat pacing, individual matchmaking, deeper environmental storytelling, and additional features," the studio said. "That said, the Technical Test build is a work in progress and will only include a selection of what's planned for the game's final version, focused on the early player experience."

Additional Information

Additional details about the private trial and the game itself can be located on Marathon's help page. But for individuals who aren't selected for the test (or don't have time), there's still good news: Bungie says a public update on the state of the game is the next thing on the agenda once the trial concludes.

"There will be a public update on Marathon's development in the coming months after the private testing phase!" The studio shared.