The Developer's Challenged Action Game Project Marathon Is Gaining Momentum
The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, the studio's highly-anticipated game, has resurfaced with the announcement of a closed technical test scheduled to run later this month.
A Challenging Path to Launch
Initially revealed during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Marathon has undergone a bumpy development cycle. In October 2024, the developer announced plans were to begin alpha testing sometime in 2025. This was followed by quiet months, until the project was showcased again in April with a planned September release. However, following initial testing led to mixed reactions, Bungie announced in June that it was postponing the game's launch.
Avoiding Past Mistakes
Though the title has already seen its fair share of issues, the development team appears committed to make certain their project avoids the same outcome as other games. Now, it appears the project's progress is moving forward again, as they just revealed that it has run "several closed playtests to gather feedback on Marathon" since this past summer. The developer is opening the doors a bit wider, enabling more players to catch a glimpse of the game via an forthcoming "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 October 28th — players must satisfy the listed pre-requisites:
- Submit an application via the official website
- Live in supported regions
- Own a PlayStation 5, Xbox console, or Windows PC (minimum PC specs include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and sufficient memory)
- Participate in the official Discord server
- Sign an NDA via the online community
How to Apply
Applications are open now, and to be considered for the private trial, players must submit their application by the October 16th deadline. PC users can also register via Steam starting on October 13th, with Steam applications due by October 26th. The developer will contact players who qualify and provide details of the next steps.
"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we test our improvements since the game's Alpha, including three maps, five runner shells, proximity communication, re-tuned combat pacing, solo queue, deeper environmental storytelling, and more," the studio said. "That said, the current version is a work in progress and will only include a portion of what's intended for Marathon's final version, concentrating on the early player experience."
Further Details
Additional details about the technical test and the actual experience can be found on the game's support section. But for individuals who don't qualify for the trial (or don't have time), there's still good news: The developer says a official announcement on the state of the game is the next thing on the schedule once the trial concludes.
"There will be a public update on the game's progress in the coming months after the Closed Technical Test!" The studio shared.
