Bungie Opens New Marathon Technical Test

Bungie's embattled sci-fi shooter, Marathon, is gearing up for another technical test and is now welcoming player registrations.

This limited, invitation-only playtest for players in North America and Europe, available on PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and Steam, will be under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and run from October 22 to 28.

"This test marks a key milestone as we evaluate our enhancements since the Alpha, featuring three maps, five runner kits, proximity chat, revised combat pacing, solo matchmaking, richer environmental storytelling, and more," the Sony-owned studio announced.

"Keep in mind, the Technical Test build is still in development and represents only a fraction of what's planned for Marathon's full launch, focusing on the initial player journey."

Interested players can sign up via this registration page until October 16, while Steam users can also register through Steam between October 13 and 26. Previous participation does not guarantee a spot, so if you're eager to join, be sure to apply again—and remember, streaming or sharing any gameplay details is not permitted.

A public development update—one of the first since Marathon’s high-profile delay to an unspecified date—will be released following the closed technical test.

Marathon's original September 23, 2025, release date was postponed after receiving "diverse" player feedback. “Your voices have been powerful and consistent across social media and Discord, and we’ve listened carefully,” Bungie stated earlier. “We understand that more time is needed to shape Marathon into the game that matches your dedication. Following extensive internal discussions, we’ve decided to delay the September 23 launch.”

In June, Sony reaffirmed its commitment to live-service gaming despite setbacks like Concord, emphasizing that Marathon would launch before April 2026, notwithstanding mixed alpha feedback and serious plagiarism allegations against Bungie.

Sony is determined to prevent another disastrous launch similar to Concord, which was pulled offline just two weeks after release, with estimates indicating it sold only around 25,000 copies. The failure has been costly for Sony, resulting in hundreds of millions in losses and the shutdown of its developer, Firewalk Studios.