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Marathon, Bungie's highly-anticipated game, has reared its head again with the news of a exclusive testing phase set to run later this month.

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 gaming showcase, Marathon has undergone a tumultuous creation process. Last fall, the developer announced it was aiming to begin alpha testing during the coming year. A period of silence followed, until the project was showcased again in spring with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, following initial testing resulted in mixed reactions, the studio announced in June that it was postponing the game's launch.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Despite Marathon has already seen its fair share of controversies, Bungie appears committed to ensure their project avoids Concord's fate. Currently, it seems the project's progress is moving forward again, as they just revealed that it has conducted multiple private tests to gather feedback on the game" since June of this year. The studio is expanding access, enabling more players to get an early look of the experience via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Considering it's a private technical test, it's understandably more exclusive than, for example, an public test. To participate in the technical test — which takes place between October 22nd to October 28th — players must meet the listed requirements:

• Submit an application via their platform
• Live in Europe or North America
• Own a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or S, or compatible computer (minimum PC specs include an compatible CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and sufficient memory)
• Join the official Discord server
• Sign an NDA via the Discord server

Application Process

Applications are open now, and to be eligible for the private trial, players must complete registration by the October 16th deadline. PC users can also register via the digital platform starting on Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PDT, with digital platform registrations due by October 26th. Bungie will notify players who qualify and inform them of the next steps.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we evaluate enhancements since Marathon'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 work in progress and will only include a selection of what's planned for Marathon's full release, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."

Further Details

More info about the technical test and the actual experience can be found on the game's help page. But for players who don't qualify for the test (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!" The studio announced.