🔗 Share this article The Developer's Challenged Action Game Project Marathon Shows Signs of Life Marathon, the studio's much-anticipated game, has made a reappearance with the announcement of a closed technical test scheduled to take place soon. A Challenging Path to Launch Initially revealed during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, the game has experienced a bumpy development cycle. In October 2024, the developer stated plans were to start Alpha tests during the coming year. This was followed by quiet months, until the game was re-revealed in spring with a planned September release. However, after some playtests resulted in negative feedback, the studio announced in June that it was postponing the game's launch. Avoiding Past Mistakes Though Marathon has already encountered its fair share of controversies, the development team appears determined to ensure Marathon doesn't suffer Concord's fate. Now, it appears the project's progress is moving forward again, as they just revealed that it has run "several closed playtests to gather feedback on the game" since this past summer. The developer is expanding access, enabling additional participants to catch a glimpse of the experience via an upcoming "closed technical test." Exclusive Testing Information Given the fact that it's a private technical test, it's understandably limited access than, say, an public test. To participate in the exclusive trial — which takes place between Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. PDT to Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PDT — players must meet the listed pre-requisites: Submit an application via their platform Live in supported regions Have access to a PlayStation 5, Xbox console, or compatible computer (minimum PC specs include an Intel Core i5-6600 processor, supported graphics card, and 8GB RAM) Join their community platform Sign an NDA via the online community How to Apply Registration is currently available, and to be considered for the technical test, applicants must submit their application by the October 16th deadline. Players on Windows PC can also register via the digital platform starting on October 13th, with digital platform registrations due by October 26th. The developer will notify selected participants and provide details of the next steps. "This represents a crucial milestone for us as we evaluate enhancements since Marathon's Alpha, including multiple locations, five runner shells, prox chat, re-tuned combat pacing, individual matchmaking, deeper environmental storytelling, and more," the studio stated. "That said, the Technical Test build is a development build and will only include a selection of what's intended for the game's final version, concentrating on the initial gameplay moments." Further Details More info about the private trial and the actual experience can be found on the game's support section. But for individuals who aren't selected for the test (or don't have time), there's still good news: The developer says a public update on the state of the game is the next thing on the agenda once the test is over. "There will be a comprehensive report on the game's progress in the coming months after the private testing phase!" The studio announced.