In an unexpected turn of events, Bungie’s long-awaited extraction shooter, Marathon, is finally coming into view after months of uncertainty. Set to enter a closed playtest phase, the developer has announced that the test will run from October 22 to October 27. Bungie had maintained a low profile during this time, and the anticipation surrounding Marathon was layered with controversy, as the studio faced allegations of plagiarizing another creator’s work. The situation reportedly impacted morale as they worked to revive their classic 1994 shooter.
Bungie’s recent call for signups for the Marathon technical test feels less like a celebratory announcement and more like a cautious step forward. The studio described the event as a significant benchmark, stating, “This is an important checkpoint for us as we test our improvements since Alpha, including three maps, five runner shells, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, solo queue, deeper environmental storytelling, and more.”
Understanding the Current Status of Marathon
While the technical test is designed to showcase a portion of the game’s features, it’s important to note that it will only represent a snapshot of what players can expect upon full release. Bungie reassures fans that more information regarding the game’s development will be shared after the closed technical test wraps up.
To participate in the upcoming closed test, players must be situated in Europe or North America and own a console or PC that meets specific requirements, such as a PS5, Xbox Series S, or an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti. Players are encouraged to remain patient as the development team works to refine the experience.
Amid the turbulence Marathon has faced along with the rapid demise of Concord within just two weeks, Sony has acknowledged that its vision for the PlayStation live service strategy is encountering challenges, admitting that things are not proceeding “entirely smoothly.”