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Marathon, Bungie's highly-anticipated game, has resurfaced with the news of a closed technical test set to take place soon.

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Marathon has experienced a bumpy development cycle. Last fall, Bungie announced it was aiming to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. This was followed by quiet months, until the project was showcased again in April with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, following initial testing led to negative feedback, Bungie revealed during summer that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Though Marathon has already encountered its fair share of issues, the development team appears determined to ensure their project doesn't suffer Concord's fate. Currently, it seems the game's development is moving forward again, as Bungie just revealed that it has conducted multiple private tests to gather feedback on the game" since this past summer. The studio is opening the doors a bit wider, enabling additional participants to get an early look of the game via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Considering it's a closed testing phase, it's naturally limited access than, say, an public test. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which takes place between October 22nd to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — participants must satisfy the following pre-requisites:

• Submit an application via the official website
• Reside in supported regions
• Have access to a PS5, Xbox console, or Windows PC (system requirements include an compatible CPU, supported graphics card, and sufficient memory)
• Join the official Discord server
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the online community

How to Apply

Registration is currently available, and to be considered for the technical test, players must submit their application by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. PC users can also submit their application via the digital platform starting on Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PDT, with digital platform registrations due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. Bungie will notify players who qualify and provide details of the following procedures.

"This is an important checkpoint for us as we evaluate enhancements since Marathon's Alpha, including three maps, five runner shells, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, individual matchmaking, deeper environmental storytelling, and more," Bungie said. "However, the current version is a development build and will only include a portion of what's planned for the game's final version, focused on the initial gameplay moments."

Further Details

More info about the private trial and the game itself can be found on the game's support section. But for individuals who aren't selected for the trial (or cannot participate), there's positive developments: Bungie says a public update on the state of the game is the following item on the agenda once the trial concludes.

"There will be a public update on Marathon's development in the near future after the Closed Technical Test!" The studio shared.