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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThe Marathon Closed Technical Test ran October 22–28, 2025, and its signup windows are closed. It was an invite-only test for players in North America and Europe on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. Bungie required applicants to apply and receive an invitation; prior Alpha participation did not guarantee access. This guide reflects the event’s status as of October 8, 2026.
When did the Marathon Closed Technical Test run?
Bungie scheduled the test for October 22, 2025, at 10 a.m. PT through October 28, 2025, at 10 a.m. PT. It has ended, so there is no remaining application route or way to join this test.
Bungie described it as a limited playtest to assess changes since the Alpha, including three maps, five Runner shells, proximity chat, adjusted combat pacing, solo queue, and deeper environmental storytelling. The developer said the build was a work in progress and represented only part of what it planned for the full game; these details describe that 2025 test, not the game’s current feature set.
How did signups work, and when did they close?
Bungie offered two application routes, with different deadlines. Both have closed.
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| Application route | Who it covered | Application window |
|---|---|---|
| Main application form | Eligible applicants for the test | Through October 16, 2025, at 4 p.m. PT |
| Separate Steam application | PC players applying through Steam | October 13, 2025, at 10 a.m. PT, through October 26, 2025, at 4 p.m. PT |
The Steam route closed after the test began, but a later deadline did not itself provide access: applicants still needed an invitation. Some people who applied for the April public Alpha may have had the main form submitted automatically. Bungie said those applicants did not need to take further action if they saw that their form had been submitted.
Previous participation in the Alpha or another NDA playtest did not automatically qualify anyone. Bungie said players had to apply and be invited to this specific test.
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- Four-player madness! - you can't spell Nippon marathon without 'P', 'a', 'R', 'T' And *checks letters* 'I', we suppose... Solo play is supported, but grab up to four pads and enjoy the supreme Silliness of gaming's greatest marathon.
- see all of Japan! - Cross the entirety of the land of Nippon in a series of creative courses spanning busy city streets, village lanes, bustling markets & More! Wacky characters! - Go toe-to-toe with some of the coolest contestants who ever did, player... Contest! Lobster-man J Darwin, onesie-obsessive Elizabeth nishibori, school uniform fan zenbei "xen bae" And the completely normal snuguru Maestro
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- tons of surprises! - you never know what will happen next in Nippon marathon. Perhaps you'll find time for an impromptu spot of slot machine fun Maybe a news anchor will Jet Pack in to Interview you on the racetrack Heck, anything is possible...
- drop-in/drop-out play! - random pedestrian passing by your couch and wants to play Not a problem. Whatever the cause, Hop in and out for the ultimate, flexible party get-together!
Who could apply, and which platforms were supported?
The test was limited to players in North America and Europe. Bungie listed PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam as supported platforms. Its FAQ listed PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S under console minimum requirements.
PC minimum requirements listed by Bungie
- Processor: Intel Core i5-6600
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
These are the minimum specifications Bungie published for the test; they are not recommended specifications or a performance guarantee.
How were invitations sent and tied to accounts?
Bungie said selected players would receive an official email, with invitations sent in waves throughout the test. An invitation was specific to the Bungie.net account used to apply and the Discord account provided in the application. It could not be shared with friends or family.
For Discord access, Bungie instructed participants to join the official Marathon Discord. It would add the Discord name supplied during signup to the NDA section. Role updates could take up to 24 hours; people who joined after the test began were to receive role grants daily in the evening. Bungie said Steam participants would provide their Discord and Bungie.net account names through an in-game survey.
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- Four-player madness! - You can't spell Nippon Marathon without 'P', 'A', 'R', 'T' and *checks letters* 'I', we suppose… Solo play is supported, but grab up to four pads and enjoy the supreme silliness of gaming's greatest marathon.
- See all of Japan! - Cross the entirety of the land of Nippon in a series of creative courses spanning busy city streets, village lanes, bustling markets & more!
- Wacky characters! - Go toe-to-toe with some of the coolest contestants who ever did, er… contest! Lobster-man J DARWIN, onesie-obsessive Elizabeth Nishibori, school uniform fan Zenbei "Xen Bae" and the completely normal Snuguru Maestro Epic pratfalls! - Swinging poles! Giant face-slapping fish! Cyclists! Shiba Inu! Panes of glass! Traffic! False doors! Barrels! Rolling beams! Wobbly planks! Flying fruit! More Shiba Inu! EARTHQUAKES!!!!!
- Tons of surprises! - You never know what will happen next in Nippon Marathon. Perhaps you'll find time for an impromptu spot of slot machine fun? Maybe a news anchor will jetpack in to interview you on the racetrack? Heck, anything is possible…
- Drop-in/drop-out play! - Random pedestrian passing by your couch and wants to play? Not a problem. Whatever the cause, hop in and out for the ultimate, flexible party get-together!
What did the NDA allow participants to share?
The October Closed Technical Test was under NDA. Bungie stated: “This test is strictly under an NDA, and as such you will not be able to stream or share your playtest experience publicly.” Participants could share feedback and recordings only in the NDA section of the official Marathon Discord. The rule for this test was distinct from the earlier April 2025 Alpha, whose NDA had been removed.
Bungie directed bug reports to the Marathon Help Center Forums, which required a Bungie.net account. It also said feedback surveys would be sent by email and that feedback could be posted in the NDA Discord section. Access to the forums and Discord could take up to 24 hours to update.
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Was the 2026 Server Slam the same event?
No. Bungie later held a separate, open preview called the Marathon Server Slam, scheduled for February 26 through March 2, 2026. That event also ended before this guide’s October 8, 2026 status check. It was not a continuation of the Closed Technical Test, and its availability did not reopen the 2025 test’s application.
Quick Recap
Official Bungie sources
- Bungie: “Apply Now: Marathon Closed Technical Test” — the October 6, 2025 announcement covering dates, application windows, eligibility, platforms, requirements, invitations, and NDA rules.
- Bungie: “Marathon’s Server Slam Is Almost Here” — the February 25, 2026 announcement of the separate preview event.
- Bungie Help: Marathon FAQ — general game information and platform listing.
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