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The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, the studio's much-anticipated game, has resurfaced with the news of a exclusive testing phase scheduled to take place soon.

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, the game has experienced a bumpy creation process. In October 2024, the developer stated it was aiming to start Alpha tests sometime in 2025. This was followed by quiet months, until the game was showcased again in April with a Sept. 23 launch date. However, after some playtests resulted in negative feedback, Bungie revealed during summer that it was postponing the game's launch.

Avoiding Past Mistakes

Though the title has already encountered its portion of issues, Bungie appears determined to make certain their project doesn't suffer Concord's fate. Currently, 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 developer is opening the doors a bit wider, allowing additional participants to catch a glimpse of the game via an forthcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Considering it's a private testing phase, it's naturally more exclusive than, for example, an open beta. To gain access in the exclusive trial — which takes place between October 22nd to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — participants must satisfy the listed pre-requisites:

• Apply via their platform
• Live in Europe or North America
• Have access to a PS5, Xbox console, or Windows PC (system requirements include an compatible CPU, 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 eligible for the private trial, players must submit their application by Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. PDT. Players on Windows PC can also submit their application via Steam starting on October 13th, with Steam applications due by October 26th. The developer will notify players who qualify and provide details of the next steps.

"This represents a crucial milestone for us as we test our improvements since Marathon's Alpha, including three maps, five runner shells, prox chat, adjusted gameplay rhythm, individual matchmaking, deeper environmental storytelling, and more," the studio said. "However, the current version is a development build and will only include a selection of what's planned for the game's final version, focused on the initial gameplay moments."

Further Details

More info about the private trial and the actual experience can be located on the game's help page. But for players who don't qualify for the test (or cannot participate), there's still good news: Bungie says a public update on the project's status is the next thing on the agenda once the trial concludes.

"We'll be sharing a public update on the game's progress in the near future after the private testing phase!" Bungie announced.