After months of silence and industry speculation, Bungie’s long-awaited and delayed extraction shooter, Marathon, is showing renewed signs of life. The developer has announced a closed technical test, signaling a crucial step forward for a project that many had worried was stuck in development limbo.
Scheduled to run from October 22 at 10 AM PT through October 28 at 10 AM PT, this playtest marks the first public-facing opportunity for players to get hands-on with Marathon since Bungie announced an indefinite delay for the title back in June 2025.
How to Get Into the Marathon Technical Test
Access to this early build is intentionally limited. Bungie has opened registrations for players in North America and Europe on PS5, Xbox Series S|X, and PC via Steam. However, the window to throw your name into the hat is short; you must sign up by October 16.
Prospective testers should manage their expectations, as Bungie is being very selective. The studio has explicitly stated that prior involvement in earlier alpha tests does not guarantee a spot in this new round.
You can apply for the Marathon Technical Test here on the official Bungie website.
There is one major catch: all participants will be bound by a strict Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). This means no streaming, no screenshot sharing, and no detailed public feedback. Bungie is clear that this build represents early, work-in-progress content, and they want to control the narrative as they gather focused feedback.
What to Expect in the Test Build
While the public won't see the footage, Bungie has outlined what testers will be experiencing on the planet Tau Ceti IV. The technical test will include:
- Three Distinct Maps: Offering a variety of tactical environments for players to explore and battle within.
- Five Customizable Runner Shells: Providing early looks at player customization and loadout options.
- Proximity Chat: A feature highly anticipated by the extraction shooter community, which could lead to tense standoffs and unexpected alliances.
- Solo Queue: An important option for players who prefer to venture into the danger alone, addressing a key community request.
- Fine-Tuned Combat Pacing: This suggests Bungie has been iterating on core gameplay feel based on internal data.
- Improved Visual Storytelling: Aiming to better immerse players in the sci-fi world and lore.
As Bungie notes in their announcement, “The Technical Test is a work in progress and will only include a portion of what’s planned for Marathon’s full release, focused on player experience.”
A Rocky Road to Revival
This test is a vital move for Bungie, which has faced significant headwinds with the Marathon project. Following its reveal in May 2023, the game’s initial reception was mixed, with some fans drawing unfavorable comparisons to Sony’s ill-fated live-service game, Concord.
The pressure is on for Marathon to succeed, especially as Bungie's flagship title, Destiny 2, faces its own historic challenges. The recent Edge of Fate expansion, which replaced the game's long-standing seasonal model, has been met with player discontent. Destiny 2's player count on Steam recently hit a record low of just 16,067 concurrent players, according to SteamDB.
This decline is attributed to both the expansion's reception and the game's restriction in several countries, including Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. The situation has grown so dire that some veteran players with thousands of hours in the game have successfully requested mass refunds for their DLC from Valve.
Looking Ahead
The upcoming technical test is more than just a bug-hunting session; it's a crucial barometer for Marathon’s potential. Bungie has promised a "comprehensive public update" on the game's progress in the months following the test. This update will likely address the biggest question of all: the official release window, which has been the subject of much rumor, with many industry insiders pointing towards a potential 2026 launch.
For Bungie, getting Marathon right is no longer just about launching a new IP—it's about demonstrating the studio's enduring strength and securing its future.
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