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The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, the studio's highly-anticipated project, has resurfaced with the news of a closed technical test scheduled to take place soon.

A Rocky Development Journey

Initially revealed during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, the game has experienced a bumpy development cycle. Last fall, the developer stated it was aiming to begin alpha testing sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the project was re-revealed in spring with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, after some playtests resulted in negative feedback, Bungie announced in June that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Though Marathon has already encountered its fair share of controversies, Bungie appears determined to ensure Marathon doesn't suffer Concord's fate. Currently, it seems the project's progress is finally getting back on track, as Bungie just revealed that it has run "several closed playtests to gather feedback on Marathon" since this past summer. The developer is opening the doors a bit wider, enabling more players to catch a glimpse of the game via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Considering it's a closed technical test, it's naturally limited access than, say, an public test. To gain access in the technical test — which runs from Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to October 28th — players must meet the following requirements:

• Submit an application via the official website
• Reside in supported regions
• Have access to a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or S, or Windows PC (system requirements include an compatible CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and 8GB RAM)
• Join their community platform
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the online community

How to Apply

Registration is currently available, and to be considered for the private trial, applicants must complete registration by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. Players on Windows PC can also submit their application via Steam starting on October 13th, with Steam applications due by October 26th. Bungie will contact players who qualify and inform them of the next steps.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we evaluate enhancements since Marathon's Alpha, including multiple locations, five runner shells, prox chat, adjusted gameplay rhythm, solo queue, enhanced narrative elements, and more," Bungie said. "However, the Technical Test build 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 technical test and the actual experience can be found on the game's help page. But for individuals who don't qualify for the trial (or don't have time), there's positive developments: The developer says a public update on the state of the game is the next thing on the agenda once the trial concludes.

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