Bungie's Challenged Shooter Project Marathon Is Gaining Momentum

Marathon, the studio's much-anticipated project, has made a reappearance with the news 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 bumpy development cycle. In October 2024, Bungie stated plans were to start Alpha tests during the coming year. This was followed by quiet months, until the project was showcased again in April with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, after some playtests led to mixed reactions, Bungie announced in June that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Though the title has already seen its fair share of issues, the development team appears committed to make certain their project doesn't suffer Concord's fate. Now, it seems the project's progress is moving forward again, as Bungie just revealed that it has run "several closed playtests to collect player input on Marathon" since June of this year. The studio is opening the doors a bit wider, allowing more players to get an early look of the experience via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Considering it's a private testing phase, it's understandably limited access than, for example, an public test. To participate in the exclusive trial — which runs from Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — players must satisfy the listed pre-requisites:

• Apply via their platform
• Live in Europe or North America
• Have access to a PlayStation 5, Xbox console, or compatible computer (system requirements include an compatible CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and 8GB RAM)
• Join the official Discord server
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the Discord server

Application Process

Registration is currently available, and to be eligible for the private trial, players must complete registration by the October 16th deadline. Players on Windows PC can also register 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. Bungie will notify selected participants and provide details of the following procedures.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we evaluate enhancements since the game's Alpha, including multiple locations, five runner shells, proximity communication, adjusted gameplay rhythm, individual matchmaking, deeper environmental storytelling, and more," the studio stated. "That said, the current version is a work in progress and will only include a portion of what's planned for the game's full release, focused on the initial gameplay moments."

Further Details

Additional details about the technical test and the game itself can be found on Marathon's help page. But for individuals who aren't selected for the test (or cannot participate), there's still good news: Bungie says a official announcement on the project's status is the following item on the schedule once the test is over.

"There will be a comprehensive report on the game's progress in the coming months after the Closed Technical Test!" The studio shared.