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

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 gaming showcase, Marathon has experienced a tumultuous development cycle. In October 2024, Bungie announced plans were to begin alpha testing during the coming year. A period of silence followed, until the project 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.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Though Marathon has already seen its portion of issues, Bungie appears committed to make certain Marathon doesn't suffer the same outcome as other games. Currently, it seems the game's development is moving forward again, as Bungie just disclosed that it has conducted multiple private tests to gather feedback on the game" since this past summer. The developer is opening the doors a bit wider, allowing more players to catch a glimpse of the experience via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Given the fact that it's a private technical test, it's understandably more exclusive than, for example, an public test. To participate in the exclusive trial — which takes place between Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — participants must meet the following 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 sufficient memory)
• Join the official Discord server
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the Discord server

How to Apply

Applications are open now, and to be considered for the technical test, applicants must submit their application by the October 16th deadline. PC users 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 notify selected participants and provide details of the following procedures.

"This is an important checkpoint for us as we test our improvements since Marathon's Alpha, including multiple locations, five runner shells, proximity communication, adjusted gameplay rhythm, individual matchmaking, enhanced narrative elements, and additional features," Bungie said. "That said, the current version is a development build and will only include a portion of what's planned for Marathon's full release, concentrating on the early player experience."

Further Details

More info about the technical test and the game itself can be found on Marathon's support section. But for individuals who aren't selected for the test (or cannot participate), there's positive developments: The developer says a official announcement on the project's status is the following item on the schedule once the test is over.

"We'll be sharing a public update on the game's progress in the near future after the Closed Technical Test!" The studio announced.