Bungie’s much-anticipated Marathon is edging closer to its debut with the announcement of a closed alpha starting on April 23, 2025. This initial testing phase, running until May 4, offers eager gamers in the U.S. and Canada a sneak peek at this intriguing title, months before its official release on September 23.
Those eager to dive into Marathon early now have a chance this April, as Bungie plans an exclusive alpha test to coincide with the release of a brand-new cinematic trailer. The trailer not only whets our appetite for Marathon but also finally unveils the official release date for this eagerly awaited shooter.
Marathon represents Bungie’s first new title since Destiny 2 captivated players worldwide, launching back in September 2017. Unlike the franchise’s earlier entries, this iteration embraces the extraction shooter genre—a genre that simply wasn’t around when Marathon first won over fans in the mid-90s.
To refresh your memory, Bungie initially lifted the veil on Marathon during the PlayStation Games Showcase held in May 2023. News has been scant since then, but that all changed today, April 12, with Bungie dropping a bombshell: a detailed gameplay reveal alongside news of the upcoming alpha. Now, a few lucky players will experience Marathon before its official September release date.
As for the alpha itself, set your calendars from April 23 to May 4. Participants who are selected will first need to sign a non-disclosure agreement, ensuring Bungie’s secrets stay under wraps until they are ready to reveal more. This test isn’t confined by platform—it’s available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
If you’re keen to participate, here’s how to do it: You’ll have to be a resident of the U.S. or Canada and at least 18 years old. Head over to the official Marathon Discord server, navigate to the #alpha_access channel, type /alpha, and you might receive an email invitation a few days before the test starts. Redeem your code on Bungie.net to get in on the action when April 23 rolls around.
Notably, this alpha is geographically restricted, likely because Bungie wants to focus on testing their servers in manageable chunks, a common practice in the industry. A form will guide interested players in checking their eligibility, and though the test’s content remains a bit of a mystery, three maps are promised at launch, though it’s unclear if all will feature in the alpha.
However, some hiccups have arisen during the signup process, particularly for users whose usernames start with a special character or number. Bungie is aware and expects a resolution by 1:30 pm Pacific on April 12.
Marathon looks set to make waves upon its release, and this alpha is just a taste of what’s to come. Whether you’re lining up to test the game or just waiting for launch day, excitement is certainly brewing for Bungie’s latest venture.
