The Developer's Challenged 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 scheduled to take place soon.

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 gaming showcase, the game has undergone a tumultuous creation process. In October 2024, Bungie announced it was aiming to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the project was re-revealed in spring with a planned September release. However, after some playtests resulted in negative feedback, Bungie announced in June that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Despite Marathon has already seen its portion of controversies, Bungie appears determined to make certain Marathon doesn't suffer the same outcome as other games. Currently, it seems the project's progress is moving forward again, as they just disclosed that it has conducted multiple private tests to collect player input on the game" since this past summer. The studio is opening the doors a bit wider, allowing additional participants to get an early look of the game via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

Given the fact that it's a private technical test, it's naturally more exclusive than, say, an open beta. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which runs from October 22nd to October 28th — players must meet the following requirements:

• Submit an application via their platform
• Reside in Europe or North America
• Have access to a PS5, Xbox Series X or S, or compatible computer (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 submit their application by the October 16th deadline. Players on Windows PC can also submit their application via the digital platform starting on October 13th, with Steam applications due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. Bungie will contact players who qualify and provide details of the next steps.

"This is an important checkpoint for us as we test our improvements since Marathon's Alpha, including three maps, five runner shells, proximity communication, re-tuned combat pacing, individual matchmaking, enhanced narrative elements, and additional features," the studio said. "That said, the Technical Test build is a development build and will only include a selection of what's planned for Marathon's final version, focused on the initial gameplay moments."

Additional Information

More info about the private trial and the game itself can be found on Marathon's help page. But for players who don't qualify for the test (or don't have time), there's still good news: Bungie says a public update on the project's status is the next thing on the agenda once the trial concludes.

"We'll be sharing a comprehensive report on Marathon's development in the coming months after the private testing phase!" The studio announced.