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Marathon, the studio's highly-anticipated game, has reared its head again with the announcement of a exclusive testing phase set to begin in October.

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 gaming showcase, the game has experienced a bumpy creation process. In October 2024, Bungie announced plans were to start Alpha tests during the coming year. This was followed by quiet months, until the game was showcased again in spring with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, following initial testing led to negative feedback, Bungie announced in June that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Though the title has already seen its portion of issues, the development team appears determined to make certain Marathon doesn't suffer the same outcome as other games. Now, it appears the game's development is finally getting back on track, as Bungie just revealed that it has conducted multiple private tests to gather feedback on the game" since June of this year. The studio is opening the doors a bit wider, allowing more players to catch a glimpse of the experience via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

Considering it's a private technical test, it's understandably more exclusive than, say, an open beta. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which takes place between October 22nd to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — participants must satisfy the listed pre-requisites:

• Submit an application via their platform
• Live in supported regions
• Have access to a PS5, Xbox Series X or S, or Windows PC (minimum PC specs include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, supported graphics card, and sufficient memory)
• Participate in the official Discord server
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the online community

How to Apply

Registration is currently available, and to be considered for the technical test, players must complete registration by the October 16th deadline. Players on Windows PC can also register via the digital platform starting on October 13th, with digital platform registrations due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. Bungie will contact players who qualify and provide details 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, proximity communication, re-tuned combat pacing, solo queue, enhanced narrative elements, and additional features," the studio stated. "However, the Technical Test build is a development build and will only include a portion of what's planned for the game's full release, focused on the early player experience."

Further Details

More info about the private trial and the actual experience can be located on Marathon's support section. But for players who don't qualify for the test (or don't have time), there's positive developments: Bungie says a public update on the project's status is the next thing on the schedule once the test is over.

"We'll be sharing a comprehensive report on Marathon's development in the near future after the Closed Technical Test!" Bungie announced.