The Developer's Troubled Action Game Project Marathon Is Making a Comeback

Marathon, the studio's highly-anticipated game, has resurfaced with the announcement of a closed technical test set to begin in October.

A Rocky Development Journey

Initially revealed during the 2023 gaming showcase, Marathon has undergone a bumpy development cycle. Last fall, Bungie announced it was aiming to begin alpha testing during the coming year. A period of silence followed, until the game was re-revealed in spring with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, after some playtests resulted in mixed reactions, the studio announced in June that it was postponing the game's launch.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Though the title has already seen its fair share of controversies, Bungie appears determined to make certain Marathon doesn't suffer the same outcome as other games. Now, it appears the project's progress is moving forward again, as Bungie just disclosed that it has conducted multiple private tests to collect player input on Marathon" since June of this year. The developer is opening the doors a bit wider, enabling more players to get an early look of the game via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

Considering it's a closed testing phase, it's naturally more exclusive than, for example, an public test. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which runs from October 22nd to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — players must satisfy the following pre-requisites:

• Apply via their platform
• Reside in Europe or North America
• Have access to a PS5, 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)
• Join their community platform
• Sign an NDA via the online community

How to Apply

Registration is currently available, and to be eligible for the private trial, players must complete registration by the October 16th deadline. Players on Windows PC can also submit their application via the digital platform starting on October 13th, with digital platform registrations due by October 26th. The developer will notify players who qualify and inform them of the following procedures.

"This is an important checkpoint for us as we test our improvements since the game's Alpha, including three maps, several character options, prox chat, adjusted gameplay rhythm, individual matchmaking, enhanced narrative elements, and additional features," Bungie stated. "That said, the Technical Test build is a development build and will only include a portion of what's intended for the game's final version, focused on the early player experience."

Additional Information

More info about the private trial and the actual experience can be located on the game's support section. But for individuals who don't qualify for the test (or don't have time), 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.

"There will be a comprehensive report on Marathon's development in the near future after the private testing phase!" The studio announced.