The Developer's Challenged Action Game Marathon Is Gaining Momentum
The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, the studio's much-anticipated project, has made a reappearance with the announcement of a exclusive testing phase scheduled to take place soon.
A Rocky Development Journey
First announced during the 2023 gaming showcase, the game has undergone a tumultuous development cycle. Last fall, the developer stated it was aiming to begin alpha testing sometime in 2025. This was followed by quiet months, until the game was showcased again in April with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, following initial testing led to mixed reactions, the studio revealed during summer 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 moving forward again, as they just disclosed that it has conducted multiple private tests to collect player input on Marathon" since June of this year. The studio is expanding access, enabling additional participants to get an early look of the game via an forthcoming "closed technical test."
Technical Test Details
Considering it's a closed technical test, it's understandably more exclusive than, for example, an open beta. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which runs from October 22nd to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — players must satisfy the listed requirements:
- Apply via their platform
- Reside in Europe or North America
- Own a PlayStation 5, Xbox console, or Windows PC (system requirements include an compatible CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and sufficient memory)
- Join the official Discord server
- Sign an NDA via the online community
Application Process
Registration is currently available, and to be eligible for the private trial, applicants must submit their application 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 October 26th. The developer will notify players who qualify and provide details of the following procedures.
"This is an important checkpoint for us as we evaluate enhancements since Marathon's Alpha, including multiple locations, several character options, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, individual matchmaking, deeper environmental storytelling, and more," the studio stated. "That said, the Technical Test build is a work in progress and will only include a selection of what's planned for Marathon's full release, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."
Additional Information
Additional details about the private trial and the actual experience can be found on Marathon's support section. But for individuals who aren't selected for the trial (or cannot participate), there's still good news: Bungie says a public update on the state of the game is the following item on the agenda once the test is over.
"We'll be sharing a public update on the game's progress in the coming months after the private testing phase!" Bungie shared.
