Bungie's Troubled Shooter Project Marathon Shows Signs of Life
The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, the studio's much-anticipated project, has resurfaced with the announcement of a exclusive testing phase set to run later this month.
A Rocky Development Journey
Initially revealed during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Marathon has experienced a bumpy creation process. In October 2024, the developer stated plans were to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the game was re-revealed in April with a planned September release. However, following initial testing resulted in mixed reactions, Bungie announced in June that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.
Avoiding Past Mistakes
Despite the title has already seen its fair share of issues, the development team appears committed to make certain their project avoids Concord's fate. Currently, it appears the project's progress 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 developer is expanding access, enabling additional participants to get an early look of the game via an forthcoming "closed technical test."
Exclusive Testing Information
Given the fact that it's a private technical test, it's naturally limited access than, for example, an open beta. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which takes place between October 22nd to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — participants must meet the listed pre-requisites:
- Submit an application via the official website
- Reside in Europe or North America
- Own a PlayStation 5, Xbox console, 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 online community
Application Process
Applications are open now, and to be considered for the technical test, players must submit their application 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 digital platform registrations due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. The developer will notify selected participants and inform them of the following procedures.
"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we evaluate enhancements since Marathon's Alpha, including multiple locations, several character options, proximity communication, adjusted gameplay rhythm, solo queue, deeper environmental storytelling, and more," the studio stated. "However, the current version is a development build and will only include a portion of what's intended for the game's full release, concentrating on the early player experience."
Additional Information
Additional details about the technical test and the game itself can be found on Marathon's help page. But for individuals who don't qualify for the trial (or cannot participate), there's positive developments: The developer says a official announcement on the state of the game is the next thing on the schedule once the test is over.
"There will be a public update on Marathon's development in the near future after the Closed Technical Test!" The studio shared.
