🔗 Share this article Bungie's Troubled Action Game Project Marathon Is Gaining Momentum Marathon, the studio's much-anticipated project, has reared its head again with the announcement of a exclusive testing phase scheduled to begin in October. A Challenging Path to Launch First announced during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, the game has experienced a tumultuous development cycle. Last fall, the developer stated it was aiming to begin alpha testing sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the game was re-revealed in spring with a planned September release. 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 Despite the title has already encountered its fair share of issues, Bungie appears committed to ensure Marathon avoids the same outcome as other games. Now, it seems the game's development is finally getting back on track, as Bungie just revealed that it has run "several closed playtests to collect player input on the game" since June of this year. The studio is expanding access, allowing additional participants to catch a glimpse of the game via an forthcoming "closed technical test." Technical Test Details Considering it's a private testing phase, it's understandably limited access than, say, an public test. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which takes place between October 22nd to October 28th — players must satisfy the following requirements: Submit an application via the official website Live in supported regions Own a PS5, Xbox console, or compatible computer (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 Discord server How to Apply Applications are open now, and to be considered for the private trial, 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 Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PDT, with Steam applications due by Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. PDT. The developer will contact selected participants and inform them of the following procedures. "This is an important checkpoint for us as we test our improvements since Marathon's Alpha, including multiple locations, several character options, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, individual matchmaking, enhanced narrative elements, and additional features," Bungie said. "That said, the Technical Test build is a development build and will only include a portion of what's intended for the game's full release, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments." Further Details Additional details about the technical test and the actual experience can be located on Marathon's help page. But for individuals who aren't selected for the test (or cannot participate), 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 test is over. "There will be a comprehensive report on the game's progress in the near future after the private testing phase!" The studio announced.