Bungie has officially opened player signups for the upcoming Marathon Closed Technical Test, which will take place from October 22 to October 28, 2025. This marks a significant phase in the ongoing development of the studio’s sci-fi extraction shooter, as the team continues refining gameplay systems and testing stability ahead of its full release.
According to Bungie, the Closed Technical Test will be available to players in North America and Europe, with access on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. The event remains invite-only and will be held under a strict non-disclosure agreement (NDA), meaning participants cannot stream or share footage from the test publicly. Those interested can apply now via the official form on Bungie’s Marathon website, with submissions closing on October 16 at 4 PM PT.
For PC users, additional signups will become available directly through Steam starting October 13 at 10 AM PT, remaining open until October 26 at 4 PM PT. Players who had previously applied for the game’s public Alpha earlier this year may find their applications automatically submitted for this new round, depending on their prior registration.
Bungie described the Closed Technical Test as an “important checkpoint” in the project’s development cycle, featuring a variety of updates and refinements since the Alpha phase. The latest build will include three playable maps, five runner shells, proximity voice chat, rebalanced combat pacing, a solo queue option, and expanded environmental storytelling elements. While the test will only represent a portion of the full game, it will focus on the early player experience and core mechanics, providing developers with critical feedback on balance and technical performance.
Application and Participation Details
- Test Dates: October 22 (10 AM PT) – October 28 (10 AM PT)
- Eligible Regions: North America and Europe
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam
- Signup Deadline: October 16 (4 PM PT) for Bungie.net applicants, October 26 (4 PM PT) for Steam signups
- Access: Invitation-based; players will receive official emails from Bungie with test details
- NDA Rules: All participants are prohibited from sharing or streaming test content publicly
- Bug Reporting and Feedback: Players can report issues via the Marathon Help Center using their Bungie.net accounts or provide input through official NDA Discord channels and feedback surveys
For those invited, Bungie will assign access roles in the Marathon Discord server throughout the duration of the test, ensuring all participants can share impressions privately and securely. Access updates to Discord or feedback portals may take up to 24 hours to activate once an invite is confirmed.
About the Technical Test
The Technical Test build of Marathon is described as a “work in progress,” showcasing only a limited portion of the content planned for launch. Bungie emphasized that this phase is essential for evaluating improvements made since the Alpha version, particularly in terms of stability, network performance, and player engagement within early missions.
While participation in previous Alpha or closed playtests does not guarantee an automatic invitation, Bungie has clarified that those players are encouraged to reapply for this session. The studio plans to release a public development update in the coming months once data and feedback from this testing phase have been reviewed.
