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The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, Bungie's much-anticipated project, has reared its head again with the news of a exclusive testing phase scheduled to begin in October.

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 gaming showcase, Marathon has undergone a bumpy development cycle. Last fall, Bungie stated plans were to begin alpha testing sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the game was showcased again in April with a planned September release. However, following initial testing led to mixed reactions, Bungie announced in June that it was postponing the game's launch.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Despite the title has already seen its fair share of issues, Bungie appears committed to ensure their project doesn't suffer the same outcome as other games. Now, it seems the project's progress is finally getting back on track, as Bungie just revealed 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 catch a glimpse of the experience via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Considering it's a private technical test, it's naturally more exclusive than, say, an public test. To gain access in the technical test — which takes place between Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to October 28th — participants must satisfy the listed requirements:

• Apply via the official website
• Reside in supported regions
• Own a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or S, or compatible computer (system requirements include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, 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 eligible for the private trial, applicants must submit their application by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. PC users 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 notify players who qualify and inform them of the next steps.

"This represents a crucial milestone 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 stated. "That said, the Technical Test build is a work in progress and will only include a selection of what's intended for the game's full release, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."

Additional Information

More info about the private trial and the game itself can be located on the game's support section. But for players who don't qualify for the trial (or cannot participate), there's still good news: The developer says a public update on the project's status is the next thing on the schedule once the trial concludes.

"There will be a comprehensive report on Marathon's development in the coming months after the private testing phase!" The studio shared.