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Marathon, Bungie's much-anticipated game, has reared its head again with the news of a exclusive testing phase set to take place soon.

A Challenging Path to Launch

First announced during the 2023 gaming showcase, the game has experienced a tumultuous development cycle. Last fall, the developer stated plans were to begin alpha testing during the coming year. This was followed by quiet months, until the game was showcased again in April with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, after some playtests resulted in mixed reactions, the studio revealed during summer that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Though the title has already seen its fair share of issues, Bungie appears determined to make certain Marathon doesn't suffer 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 this past summer. The developer is expanding access, enabling additional participants to get an early look of the game via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Considering it's a private technical test, it's naturally more exclusive than, for example, an open beta. To gain access in the technical test — which takes place between Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — players must meet the following requirements:

• Apply via the official website
• Reside in Europe or North America
• Own a PS5, Xbox console, or compatible computer (system requirements include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, supported graphics card, and sufficient memory)
• Participate in their community platform
• Sign an NDA via the online community

Application Process

Registration is currently available, and to be eligible for the private trial, players must complete registration by the October 16th deadline. Players on Windows PC can also register via the digital platform starting on Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PDT, with Steam applications due by October 26th. Bungie will contact selected participants and provide details of the next steps.

"This is an important checkpoint for us as we test our improvements since the game's Alpha, including multiple locations, five runner shells, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, individual matchmaking, deeper environmental storytelling, and more," Bungie said. "That said, the current version is a work in progress and will only include a selection of what's intended for Marathon's final version, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."

Additional Information

More info about the technical test and the actual experience can be found on the game's support section. But for players who don't qualify for the test (or don't have time), there's still good news: Bungie says a official announcement on the project's status is the following item on the schedule once the test is over.

"We'll be sharing a public update on the game's progress in the near future after the private testing phase!" Bungie announced.