The Developer's Troubled Shooter Marathon Is Making a Comeback

Marathon, the studio's much-anticipated game, has made a reappearance with the news of a closed technical test set to begin in October.

A Rocky Development Journey

Initially revealed during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Marathon has experienced a bumpy development cycle. Last fall, Bungie announced plans were to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the project was showcased again in spring with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, after some playtests resulted in mixed reactions, the studio announced in June that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Though the title has already seen its portion of controversies, Bungie appears determined to ensure their project doesn't suffer Concord's fate. Currently, it seems the game's development is finally getting back on track, as Bungie just disclosed that it has run "several closed playtests to collect player input on Marathon" since this past summer. The studio is expanding access, enabling more players to get an early look of the experience via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

Given the fact that it's a private testing phase, it's understandably more exclusive than, say, 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 meet the listed pre-requisites:

• Apply via their platform
• Live in supported regions
• Own a PS5, Xbox console, or Windows PC (minimum PC specs include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and 8GB RAM)
• Join their community platform
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the online community

Application Process

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 Steam starting on Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PDT, with Steam applications due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. Bungie will notify players who qualify and inform them of the following procedures.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we test our improvements since Marathon's Alpha, including multiple locations, five runner shells, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, individual matchmaking, enhanced narrative elements, and additional features," the studio stated. "However, the Technical Test build is a development build and will only include a selection of what's planned for Marathon's final version, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."

Further Details

Additional details 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 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 trial concludes.

"We'll be sharing a comprehensive report on Marathon's development in the coming months after the Closed Technical Test!" Bungie shared.