The Developer's Troubled Shooter Project Marathon Is Making a Comeback
Marathon, the studio's highly-anticipated game, has resurfaced with the announcement of a exclusive testing phase set to run later this month.
A Rocky Development Journey
First announced during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Marathon has experienced a tumultuous development cycle. In October 2024, Bungie announced it was aiming to start Alpha tests during the coming year. This was followed by quiet months, until the project was re-revealed in spring with a planned September release. However, after some playtests led to negative feedback, the studio announced in June that it was postponing the game's launch.
Steering Clear of Controversy
Though the title has already seen its portion of issues, the development team appears determined to make certain Marathon avoids Concord's fate. Currently, it appears the project's progress is moving forward again, as they just disclosed that it has conducted multiple private tests to gather feedback on Marathon" since this past summer. The developer is opening the doors a bit wider, enabling additional participants to get an early look of the game via an forthcoming "closed technical test."
Technical Test Details
Considering it's a closed technical test, it's naturally limited access than, say, an open beta. To gain access in the technical test — which runs from October 22nd to October 28th — participants must satisfy the following requirements:
- Apply via the official website
- Reside in supported regions
- Own a PS5, Xbox console, or Windows PC (minimum PC specs include an compatible CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and sufficient memory)
- 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 submit their application by the October 16th deadline. Players on Windows PC can also submit their application via Steam starting on October 13th, with Steam applications due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. The developer will contact selected participants and provide details of the following procedures.
"This is an important checkpoint for us as we test our improvements since the game's Alpha, including three maps, several character options, prox chat, adjusted gameplay rhythm, individual matchmaking, enhanced narrative elements, and more," the studio said. "However, the current version is a work in progress and will only include a portion of what's planned for the game's final version, focused on the early player experience."
Further Details
More info about the private trial and the actual experience can be located on Marathon's help page. But for players who aren't selected for the test (or cannot participate), there's still good news: The developer says a official announcement on the state of the game is the next thing on the schedule once the trial concludes.
"We'll be sharing a public update on the game's progress in the near future after the Closed Technical Test!" The studio announced.
