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The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, Bungie's highly-anticipated game, has made a reappearance with the announcement of a exclusive testing phase set to take place soon.

A Rocky Development Journey

Initially revealed during the 2023 gaming showcase, the game has undergone a tumultuous development cycle. Last fall, Bungie stated plans were to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the game was showcased again in spring with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, after some playtests resulted in mixed reactions, the studio announced in June that it was postponing the game's launch.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Though the title has already seen its portion of controversies, Bungie appears determined to ensure Marathon doesn't suffer the same outcome as other games. 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 gather feedback on the game" since June of this year. The developer is opening the doors a bit wider, allowing additional participants to catch a glimpse of the experience via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Technical Test Details

Given the fact that it's a closed testing phase, it's naturally more exclusive than, say, an open beta. To participate in the technical test — which takes place between Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — players must satisfy the following pre-requisites:

• Apply via their platform
• Reside in Europe or North America
• Own a PS5, Xbox console, or compatible computer (minimum PC specs include an compatible CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and sufficient memory)
• Join their community platform
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the Discord server

How to Apply

Registration is currently available, and to be considered for the private trial, applicants must submit their application by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. PC users can also register via the digital platform starting on October 13th, with Steam applications due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. Bungie will contact selected participants and inform them 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, enhanced narrative elements, and additional features," Bungie stated. "However, the current version is a work in progress and will only include a selection of what's planned for the game's final version, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."

Additional Information

More info about the technical test and the actual experience can be found on the game's help page. But for individuals who don't qualify for the trial (or don't have time), there's positive developments: The developer says a public update on the state of the game is the next thing on the agenda once the trial concludes.

"We'll be sharing a public update on the game's progress in the near future after the private testing phase!" The studio announced.