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The upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, the studio's much-anticipated game, has reared its head again with the announcement of a exclusive testing phase scheduled to begin in October.

A Rocky Development Journey

First announced during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, the game has undergone a bumpy creation process. Last fall, the developer announced plans were to begin alpha testing during the coming year. This was followed by quiet months, until the project was showcased again in spring with a planned September release. However, after some playtests led to negative feedback, Bungie announced in June that it was delaying Marathon indefinitely.

Steering Clear of Controversy

Despite the title has already seen its portion of issues, Bungie appears committed to make certain their project avoids Concord's fate. Currently, it seems the project's progress is finally getting back on track, as they just revealed that it has run "several closed playtests to gather feedback on the game" since June of this year. The developer is expanding access, allowing additional participants to catch a glimpse of the game via an upcoming "closed technical test."

Exclusive Testing Information

Considering it's a private testing phase, it's understandably more exclusive than, say, an public test. To participate in the exclusive trial — which takes place between October 22nd to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — participants must satisfy the listed requirements:

• Submit an application via the official website
• Live in supported regions
• Own a PS5, Xbox console, or Windows PC (minimum PC specs include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU, and sufficient memory)
• Join their community platform
• Complete confidentiality agreement via the Discord server

How to Apply

Applications are open now, and to be considered for the private trial, applicants must submit their application 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. Bungie will contact players who qualify and provide details of the next steps.

"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 additional features," Bungie said. "That said, the current version is a development build and will only include a portion of what's intended for Marathon's full release, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments."

Further Details

Additional details about the private trial and the actual experience can be located on the game's support section. But for individuals who aren't selected for the test (or cannot participate), there's positive developments: The developer says a public update on the project's status is the following item on the schedule once the test is over.

"We'll be sharing a public update on the game's progress in the near future after the Closed Technical Test!" Bungie announced.