🔗 Share this article The Developer's Challenged Action Game Marathon Is Making a Comeback Marathon, Bungie's highly-anticipated project, has reared its head again with the announcement of a closed technical test set to begin in October. A Challenging Path to Launch Initially revealed during the 2023 gaming showcase, the game has undergone a bumpy creation process. Last fall, the developer stated plans were to begin alpha testing sometime in 2025. A period of silence followed, until the project was showcased again in spring with a planned September release. However, following initial testing led to negative feedback, the studio announced in June that it was postponing the game's launch. Avoiding Past Mistakes Despite the title has already encountered its fair share of controversies, Bungie appears committed to ensure Marathon doesn't suffer the same outcome as other games. Now, it appears the game's development is finally getting back on track, as they just disclosed that it has run "several closed playtests to collect player input on the game" since this past summer. The studio 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 closed technical test, it's understandably 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 meet the following requirements: Apply via their platform Reside in Europe or North America Have access to a PlayStation 5, Xbox console, or compatible computer (system requirements include an compatible CPU, supported graphics card, and sufficient memory) Participate in their community platform Complete confidentiality agreement via the Discord server How to Apply Applications are open now, and to be eligible for the technical test, players must complete registration by the October 16th deadline. PC users can also submit their application via the digital platform starting on October 13th, with digital platform registrations due by October 26th. The developer will contact players who qualify and provide details of the following procedures. "This is an important checkpoint for us as we evaluate enhancements since Marathon's Alpha, including three maps, five runner shells, 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 intended for the game's final version, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments." Additional Information More info about the private trial and the game itself can be found on the game's support section. But for players who don't qualify for the test (or don't have time), there's positive developments: Bungie says a official announcement on the project's status is the next thing on the agenda once the test is over. "There will be a comprehensive report on Marathon's development in the coming months after the Closed Technical Test!" The studio announced.