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

A Rocky Development Journey

Initially revealed during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Marathon has experienced a bumpy creation process. Last fall, the developer announced plans were to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. This was followed by quiet months, until the project was re-revealed in spring with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, following initial testing 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 committed to make certain their project avoids Concord's fate. Now, it seems the project's progress is finally getting back on track, as they just revealed that it has run "several closed playtests to collect player input on the game" since June of this year. The studio is opening the doors a bit wider, enabling additional participants to get an early look of the experience via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Given the fact that it's a closed testing phase, it's understandably more exclusive than, for example, an public test. To participate in the exclusive trial — which runs from October 22nd to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — participants must satisfy the following requirements:

• Submit an application via the official website
• Live in supported regions
• Have access to a PS5, Xbox console, or Windows PC (minimum PC specs include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, supported graphics card, and sufficient memory)
• Join their community platform
• Sign an NDA via the Discord server

How to Apply

Registration is currently available, and to be considered for the technical test, players must submit their application by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. Players on Windows PC can also register via Steam starting on October 13th, with digital platform registrations due by October 26th. The developer will contact players who qualify and inform them of the following procedures.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we test our improvements since the game's Alpha, including multiple locations, several character options, prox chat, 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 portion of what's planned for Marathon's final version, concentrating on the early player experience."

Further Details

Additional details about the technical test and the actual experience can be located on the game's help page. But for individuals who aren't selected for the test (or don't have time), there's still good news: The developer says a public update on the project's status is the next thing on the agenda once the test is over.

"We'll be sharing a comprehensive report on the game's progress in the near future after the Closed Technical Test!" The studio announced.