After pushing back the game’s release date for nearly four months, Bungie has finally shared an update for its evacuation shooter Marathon. The developer will open closed beta testing for Marathon starting later this month. Invited players in North America and Europe will test the game on PS5, PC and Xbox Series S/X. Bungie calls this development an “important checkpoint” that will help the studio test improvements implemented since Marathon’s closed alpha testing.
Marathon Playtesting Returns
The Sony-owned studio said it has been conducting closed Marathon playtests since June to gather feedback. Bungie will expand the scope of game testing and will host a closed technical test from October 22nd to October 28th. A limited, invitation-only playtest will be open to players in North America and Europe. Applications for the closed playtest are now live on the Bungie website.
“This is an important checkpoint for us as we test improvements since the Alpha, including three maps, five runner shells, prox chat, refocused combat pacing, single-player queues, deeper environmental storytelling, and more,” Bungie said in its playtest announcement. “That said, the technical beta build is still a work in progress and will only be part of the full Marathon release plan with a focus on early player experience.”
Qualified players interested in participating in the closed technical test can fill out a form from now until October 16th at 4pm PT. The test will include a confidentiality agreement, so players won’t be able to share their impressions after the event.
However, Bungie said it will publicly share updates on Marathon development in the coming months following the game’s beta testing.
Marathon has yet to set a release date
Photo credit: Sony/Bungie
Marathon delays
Marathon was originally scheduled to release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X on September 23, but Bungie delayed the shooter indefinitely after a poor response to the game’s alpha test in May and a plagiarism scandal that raised questions about the originality of the game’s art style.
In a June development update, Bungie said it decided to delay Marathon’s release date after gathering player feedback from alpha playtests.
“We’ve taken this to heart and know we need more time to make Marathon a game that truly embodies your passion. After many discussions with our development team, we have decided to delay the September 23rd release,” the studio said at the time.
The studio said it will conduct more closed playtests and roll out new features, including game-changing artificial intelligence enemy encounters, narrative and environmental storytelling, and visual fidelity.
“You’ll hear from us again later this fall, when we can share the progress we’ve made, as well as a new release date for the game,” the developers said.
However, Marathon has yet to set a new release date. The same update is expected to arrive following a closed technical playtest later this month.
In August, Bungie announced the departure of CEO Pete Parsons. Parsons, who led the studio through the launch of Destiny 2 and its expansion packs, the Sony acquisition and subsequent reorganization, said now is the perfect time for a “fresh start” and confirmed that Justin Truman will take over as new studio head.
At the time, Truman said the team was “working hard” on Marathon and Destiny and would share more updates for both games later in 2025.
