Bungie's Challenged Shooter Marathon Is Gaining Momentum
Marathon, Bungie's much-anticipated project, has reared its head again with the announcement of a closed technical test scheduled to take place soon.
A Rocky Development Journey
First announced during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, the game has undergone a tumultuous development cycle. Last fall, Bungie stated plans were to begin alpha testing sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the game was showcased again in spring with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, after some playtests resulted in negative feedback, the studio revealed during summer that it was postponing the game's launch.
Avoiding Past Mistakes
Though the title has already seen its fair share of controversies, Bungie appears committed to make certain Marathon doesn't suffer Concord's fate. Currently, it seems the project's progress is finally getting back on track, as Bungie just revealed that it has conducted multiple private tests to collect player input on Marathon" since this past summer. The studio is expanding access, enabling more players to catch a glimpse of the game via an forthcoming "closed technical test."
Technical Test Details
Considering it's a private testing phase, it's understandably limited access than, for example, an public test. To participate in the exclusive trial — which takes place between October 22nd to October 28th — participants must satisfy the following requirements:
- Apply via the official website
- Reside in supported regions
- Have access to a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or S, or Windows PC (system requirements include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and 8GB RAM)
- Participate in their community platform
- Sign an NDA via the Discord server
Application Process
Applications are open now, and to be eligible for the private trial, players must submit their application by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. PC users can also register via the digital platform starting on Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PDT, with Steam applications due by October 26th. Bungie will notify selected participants and provide details of the next steps.
"This is an important checkpoint for us as we evaluate enhancements since the game's Alpha, including multiple locations, five runner shells, prox chat, adjusted gameplay rhythm, solo queue, deeper environmental storytelling, and more," the studio stated. "However, the Technical Test build is a work in progress and will only include a portion of what's planned for the game's full release, focused on the early player experience."
Additional Information
More info about the technical test and the game itself can be located on Marathon's support section. But for players who aren't selected for the trial (or don't have time), there's still good news: Bungie says a official announcement on the project's status is the next thing on the schedule once the trial concludes.
"There will be a public update on the game's progress in the coming months after the private testing phase!" Bungie shared.
