Bungie's Challenged Shooter Marathon Is Making a Comeback
The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, Bungie's highly-anticipated project, has made a reappearance with the news of a closed technical test scheduled to take place soon.
A Challenging Path to Launch
First announced during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, the game has undergone a bumpy creation process. Last fall, Bungie stated it was aiming to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the project was showcased again in April with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, following initial testing led to mixed reactions, Bungie announced in June that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.
Steering Clear of Controversy
Though the title has already encountered its fair share of issues, Bungie appears committed to ensure their project doesn't suffer Concord's fate. Currently, it appears the game's development is moving forward again, as Bungie just disclosed that it has run "several closed playtests to gather feedback on the game" since June of this year. The studio is opening the doors a bit wider, enabling additional participants to catch a glimpse of the experience via an forthcoming "closed technical test."
Exclusive Testing Information
Given the fact that it's a private testing phase, it's understandably more exclusive than, say, an open beta. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which runs from Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — participants must meet the listed pre-requisites:
- Submit an application via their platform
- Live in supported regions
- Have access to a PS5, Xbox console, or compatible computer (minimum PC specs include an compatible CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and sufficient memory)
- Join the official Discord server
- Sign an NDA via the Discord server
How to Apply
Applications are open now, and to be eligible for the private trial, applicants 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 notify players who qualify and provide details of the next steps.
"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we test our improvements since Marathon's Alpha, including multiple locations, several character options, prox chat, adjusted gameplay rhythm, individual matchmaking, deeper environmental storytelling, and additional features," Bungie stated. "However, the Technical Test build is a work in progress and will only include a selection of what's intended for Marathon's full release, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."
Further Details
Additional details about the technical test and the game itself can be found on the game's support section. But for individuals who don't qualify for the test (or cannot participate), there's still good news: The developer says a official announcement on the project's status is the following item on the schedule 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 shared.
