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

A Challenging Path to Launch

Initially revealed during the 2023 gaming showcase, the game has undergone a tumultuous creation process. Last fall, the developer announced it was aiming to start Alpha tests during the coming year. A period of silence followed, until the project was re-revealed in spring with a planned September release. However, following initial testing led to negative feedback, the studio revealed during summer that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Despite the title has already encountered its fair share of issues, Bungie appears determined 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 revealed that it has conducted multiple private tests to gather feedback on Marathon" since June of this year. The studio is expanding access, allowing more players to catch a glimpse of the game via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

Given the fact that it's a private testing phase, it's naturally limited access than, for example, an open beta. To gain access in the technical test — which takes place between October 22nd to October 28th — players must meet the following requirements:

• Submit an application via their platform
• Reside in Europe or North America
• Own a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or S, or compatible computer (system requirements include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and sufficient memory)
• Participate in their community platform
• Sign an NDA via the online community

Application Process

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

"This is an important checkpoint for us as we evaluate enhancements since the game's Alpha, including multiple locations, several character options, proximity communication, adjusted gameplay rhythm, solo queue, deeper environmental storytelling, and additional features," the studio said. "However, the current version is a development build and will only include a portion of what's intended for the game's full release, focused on the early player experience."

Additional Information

Additional details about the private trial and the actual experience can be located on Marathon's support section. But for players who don't qualify for the test (or don't have time), there's positive developments: Bungie says a official announcement on the project's status is the following item on the schedule once the trial concludes.

"We'll be sharing a public update on Marathon's development in the near future after the private testing phase!" Bungie shared.