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Marathon, Bungie's much-anticipated game, has resurfaced with the announcement of a exclusive testing phase scheduled to begin in October.

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 gaming showcase, Marathon has experienced a tumultuous development cycle. Last fall, Bungie announced it was aiming to begin alpha testing during the coming year. This was followed by quiet months, until the game was showcased again in spring with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, following initial testing led to negative feedback, the studio announced in June that it was postponing the game's launch.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Despite the title has already seen its portion of controversies, the development team appears determined to make certain their project avoids the same outcome as other games. Currently, it appears the game's development is moving forward again, as they just revealed that it has conducted multiple private tests to collect player input on the game" since June of this year. The studio is expanding access, allowing additional participants to get an early look of the experience via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Given the fact that it's a private testing phase, it's understandably limited access than, say, an public test. To participate in the exclusive trial — which runs from October 22nd to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — players must meet the listed requirements:

• Submit an application via the official website
• Live in Europe or North America
• Have access to a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or S, or Windows PC (minimum PC specs include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, supported graphics card, and 8GB RAM)
• Participate in their community platform
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the online community

How to Apply

Registration is currently available, and to be eligible for the private trial, players must complete registration by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. PC users can also submit their application via Steam starting on Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PDT, with digital platform registrations due by October 26th. The developer will contact players who qualify and provide details of the next steps.

"This is an important checkpoint for us as we evaluate enhancements since the game's Alpha, including three maps, five runner shells, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, solo queue, enhanced narrative elements, and more," the studio stated. "However, the current version is a development build and will only include a portion of what's planned for Marathon's final version, focused on the early player experience."

Further Details

More info about the private trial and the game itself can be located on Marathon's help page. But for individuals who aren't selected for the test (or cannot participate), there's still good news: Bungie says a official announcement on the project's status is the next thing on the agenda once the test is over.

"We'll be sharing a public update on the game's progress in the coming months after the Closed Technical Test!" The studio shared.