Marathon Resurfaces With New Test, Here’s How To Sign Up To Play Early

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Bungie’s team is getting ready to test their upcoming PvE shooter, Marathon, after the game was previously delayed with no set release date.

From October 22nd to 27th, a limited technical test for the game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in North America and Europe. You can sign up now, but Bungie notes that not everyone who applies will be selected. If you’re chosen, you’ll need to agree to a non-disclosure agreement, meaning you won’t be able to share details about the test publicly.

Sign-ups are open now on Bungie’s website and will close on October 16th at 4 PM Pacific Time / 7 PM Eastern Time. If you’re a PC player, you can also sign up through Steam starting October 13th.

What’s the closed technical test all about?

Bungie has run several closed tests for Marathon previously, and this test serves the same purpose: to gather feedback from players on the game’s development.

The developer announced a significant milestone in testing their updates since the Alpha version. These improvements include three new maps, five different character models, proximity chat, adjustments to combat speed, a solo queue option, and more detailed storytelling within the game environment.

Sounds like Marathon is not coming soon

Bungie plans to provide a development update on Marathon after the current technical test is finished, but it won’t be for a few months. This likely means the game isn’t expected to launch anytime soon.

Originally planned for release on September 23rd, the game Marathon has been delayed. Bungie, the game’s developer, pushed back the launch date in June to allow for more development and polish.

Sony, which owns Bungie, recently affirmed its dedication to creating ongoing, live-service games, despite some recent challenges. The company stated it has implemented new processes to help its upcoming game, Marathon, avoid the difficulties faced by its previously cancelled game, Concord.

Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, shared that the recent Marathon alpha test received mixed feedback. Despite this, Sony still believes live-service games offer a significant chance for growth. Hulst explained that their game, Concord, didn’t stand out enough in the crowded live-service multiplayer market.

We carefully examined our procedures to figure out what went wrong with that title and how to prevent similar issues in the future, he explained.

Regarding the upcoming Marathon game, Matt Hulst explained they’re striving for a title that is truly ambitious, fresh, and captivating. While the initial alpha test received varied feedback, Hulst emphasized that these early tests are valuable for gathering insights and making the game even better.

As a fan, it’s really cool to hear how important constantly testing and improving the game is – not just before it even comes out, but for years afterward too. It sounds like that’s a huge part of what makes a live-service game thrive!

However, Hulst didn’t address the issues caused by the discovery of stolen artwork in Marathon, nor did he speak to the related controversy surrounding the game and Bungie’s admission.

TopMob’s preview of the game Marathon noted that in today’s market of free games, a paid game with limited content, despite its potential, might not impress players as much as the author believes Bungie is capable of.

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2025-10-07 14:10