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The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, the studio's highly-anticipated game, has resurfaced with the announcement of a exclusive testing phase set to run later this month.

A Rocky Development Journey

Initially revealed during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Marathon has experienced a tumultuous creation process. Last fall, the developer stated plans were to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the project was re-revealed in spring with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, after some playtests resulted in mixed reactions, Bungie revealed during summer that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Despite Marathon has already seen its fair share of controversies, Bungie appears committed to make certain Marathon avoids Concord's fate. Now, it appears the project's progress is moving forward again, as they just revealed that it has conducted multiple private tests to collect player input on Marathon" since this past summer. The studio is expanding access, enabling additional participants to catch a glimpse of the game via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Given the fact that it's a closed technical test, it's naturally limited access than, for example, an open beta. To gain access in the technical test — which runs from Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to October 28th — participants must satisfy the listed requirements:

• Apply via their platform
• Reside in supported regions
• Own a PlayStation 5, Xbox console, or compatible computer (system requirements include an compatible CPU, supported graphics card, and 8GB RAM)
• Participate in their community platform
• Sign an NDA via the Discord server

How to Apply

Registration is currently available, and to be eligible for the technical test, players must complete registration by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. Players on Windows PC can also submit their application via the digital platform starting on October 13th, with digital platform registrations due by October 26th. Bungie will notify selected participants and provide details of the next steps.

"This is an important checkpoint for us as we evaluate enhancements since the game's Alpha, including three maps, several character options, prox chat, adjusted gameplay rhythm, solo queue, deeper environmental storytelling, and additional features," Bungie said. "That said, the Technical Test build is a development build and will only include a selection of what's planned for the game's final version, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."

Further Details

More info about the technical test and the actual experience can be located on Marathon's support section. But for players who don't qualify for the test (or cannot participate), there's positive developments: The developer says a official announcement on the state of the game 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 private testing phase!" The studio announced.