Marathon: Bungie's Undead Shooter Stirs for Another Playtest – Is This The One?
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Marathon, Bungie's previously 'indefinitely delayed' shooter, is stirring back to life with a secretive, multi-platform closed technical test featuring solo queues and proximity chat. While signs of improvement are there, the NDA and past public reception have me cautiously optimistic, wondering if these changes are enough to truly revive its potential.
Right, so remember Marathon? You know, Bungie's next big thing that kinda… vanished into the ether after being 'indefinitely delayed'? Yeah, the one everyone had a bit of a chuckle about when the initial vibes weren't exactly stellar. Well, turns out it's not quite chilling in the digital afterlife just yet, because the whispers of a new, rather secretive, playtest are getting louder than a rogue spell gone wrong.
I've been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it's wilder than it first appeared, especially when you consider its somewhat rocky road so far. Bungie, bless their cotton socks, are apparently keen to give us another peek, or rather, a select few a peek, at their upcoming extraction shooter. They're calling it a 'closed technical test,' and it's set to run for just a few days, from October 22nd to October 28th. Now, before you go trying to manifest an invite with dark rituals, know that sign-ups are open, but this isn't exactly a public shindig.
Now, here's where it gets interesting, mate. This playtest is breaking new ground (for Marathon, anyway) by stretching across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, *and* Steam. And it’s not just North America getting a bite at the cherry; our European pals are in on it too. That’s a pretty solid move towards broader accessibility, or at least, wider data collection. You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit too well, covering everything in glitter? That's what Bungie's doing with platform reach this time around.
But here’s the kicker, the bit that raises my wizardly eyebrow a notch or two: it's all under NDA. An NDA, you say? After the rather... publicly poor reception of previous playtests earlier this year? Colour me surprised. It's almost as if Bungie doesn't want another public roasting before they've even had a chance to butter the digital bread. It certainly sounds like they're continuing an attempt at some serious damage control. You can bet your bottom dollar that any 'content creator desperate for views' (as the original source delightfully put it) will be tiptoeing around those restrictions like a goblin on a tightrope, but for us mere mortals, mum's the word.
So, what's actually *in* this highly guarded test, besides the promise of secrecy? We're looking at three maps and five 'runner shells' to mess about with. The big, shiny new features, however, are proximity chat and, wait for it… a solo queue! Bloody hell, what a concept for a game that previously forced you into teams of three, even if you rocked up by yourself, leaving you at a real disadvantage. Reckon that might have been a tad frustrating for some players, eh? It’s almost like they listened to feedback, or perhaps realised that forcing social interaction isn't always the best first impression for a game trying to find its footing.
Beyond those rather significant quality-of-life adjustments, Bungie's also promising 're-tuned combat pacing… deeper environmental storytelling, and more.' Now, let’s be gently skeptical here for a moment. 'Re-tuned combat pacing' sounds an awful lot like corporate speak for 'we fiddled with the numbers until it felt less like wading through treacle.' And 'deeper environmental storytelling'? Let's hope that means more than just finding a dusty old data pad describing someone's lunch break. While these sound good on paper, the proof, as always, will be in the digital pudding.
Remember, this is all happening in the shadow of that 'indefinitely delayed' announcement. That's never a good sign for the state of a game, is it? It suggests a fundamental rethink was needed, or perhaps a significant course correction. So, while these new features and the wider technical test suggest Marathon is indeed showing signs of life, the big question remains: will it feel 'radically different' enough to make an impact? I'm not entirely convinced yet, but I'm certainly curious. Like a wizard pondering a new, unstable potion, I'm eager to see what concoction Bungie has brewed up this time.
If you're feeling adventurous and don't mind signing your digital soul away to an NDA, you can head to the blog post about the network test to sign up until October 16th. Or, if you prefer the familiar warm embrace of Steam, you can apply directly there from October 13th, with sign-ups running until October 26th. Bungie's promised more updates in the months after the test, so we'll have to wait and see where Marathon ends up landing next year. Here's hoping it finds its footing, rather than tumbling into another dimensional rift.
Tags: Marathon, Bungie, Playtest, Extraction Shooter, Game Development
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun