- Bungie is reportedly preparing for the largest Marathon playtest yet, which will last 30 consecutive days.
- Players who playtest the game for at least an hour for 30 days at the specified times will earn a $500 gift card.
- Sony also expects Marathon to launch by March 31, 2026, but this date is subject to change.
Marathon was delayed to 2026 to receive major reworks after the plagiarism allegations proved to be the final nail in the coffin amid other controversies. Insiders have since painted a grim picture, suggesting possible project cancellation and irreparable damage to Bungie.
However, new developments suggest the FPS is at least on the right track. Bungie is reportedly preparing for Marathon’s biggest playtests yet, which will last for 30 consecutive days for select invited players.
Additionally, Sony is incentivizing players by promising a $500 gift card reward for those who play for an hour daily during the playtest.
Why it matters: Bungie’s preparation for the biggest rounds of playtests for Marathon proves that the project is far from being canceled. Sony is taking it quite seriously, unlike the rumors suggested.
As seen by The Game Post, Sony has sent a new email to selected players about a remote Marathon playtest that will last a month, from September 8 to October 7, 2025. Bungie will gather feedback by conducting daily and weekly surveys from playtesters.
We would like to invite you to join us for our Marathon 30-Day user research study!
-Bungie.
Players who play at least an hour during 3 to 7 PM PT on weekdays and 2 to 8 PM PT on weekends will be eligible for the $500 gift card reward of their choice. Those who only finish a part of the playtest will only receive a limited reward.
Upon completing the study, you will receive a $500 gift card of your choice as a thank you for your valuable time and feedback.
Sony also clarifies that Marathon is planned to launch within its FY2025 window, by March 31, 2026. However, this date may change based on Marathon’s development.
Regardless, some gamers have called the reward a desperate move by Bungie to get players invested in Marathon after most of the community lost interest.
Do you think Bungie’s reward of $500 for playing Marathon will help attract a more dedicated audience for the playtest? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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