After spending more than ten years on Destiny and Destiny 2, the renowned developer Bungie, known for its classic Halo series, is making a comeback with Marathon. You can now take the first steps to register for the upcoming alpha test. Unlike the beloved 1990s FPS trilogy of the same name, the new Marathon is an extraction shooter that offers a live-service experience vastly different from its predecessor.
Though details about the game have been largely kept secret until now, the closed alpha is set to launch on April 23. To register, you’ll need a Discord account. If you have that and are willing to fill out a short survey, the registration process is pretty simple.
How to Sign Up for the Marathon Closed Alpha
A Discord Account is Necessary
To register for Marathon, the first step is to join the official Discord server, which you can access via a link at the end of the official Bungie news post. Click on the link labeled “community Discord“, and it will prompt you to launch Discord for confirmation. After joining, navigate to the #alpha_access channel and type “/alpha” (without quotes). Pressing enter will trigger a command for a Discord bot to send you a unique link to sign up for the alpha. Once you’re selected for the Marathon alpha test, you can leave the Discord server.
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After obtaining the sign-up link, click on it and choose your preferred gaming platform. Note that the system won’t accept Discord usernames that begin with a number, period, or underscore, which might require you to temporarily change your username to gain access. You may also need to create a Bungie account if you don’t already have one or link it to an existing account like Steam.
To create a Bungie account, you’ll need to provide your date of birth and a valid email address (which must be verified). You only have to check the box for agreeing to the terms and conditions and any optional NDA agreements; you can skip the rest without issue.
How to Complete the Marathon Survey
PC Sign-Ups Require Some Information
You will need to fill out a survey to express your interest in the closed alpha. While completing the survey doesn’t guarantee selection, you won’t finish your sign-up if you exit before finishing. The survey contains basic questions, including:
- Language (English)
- Age (18+)
- Country of Residence (You can choose Canada, United States, or Other; a residence in North America is essential.)
Following these basic queries, the survey delves into more personal topics. There aren’t right or wrong answers that will influence your chances of being selected; Marathon could be aiming for a varied group of alpha testers. The only exception is the PC system requirements, where you will need to confirm you meet the minimum specifications. Fortunately, they are not overly demanding.
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Processor: Intel Core i5-6600 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4 GB) / AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT (4 GB) / Intel Arc A580 (8 GB)
- Video Memory (VRAM): 4 GB
- DirectX: DirectX 12 with Feature Level 12_1 support
- Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)
The survey will ask about your RAM, processor, and graphics card. If you’re unsure about these specifications, you can find them by searching for “System Information” in your taskbar. Your memory (Installed Physical Memory) and processor can be located in the default System Summary section, while your graphics card details will appear under the Components – Display area. You’ll need to provide accurate answers to avoid disqualification from the closed alpha test.
Marathon Closed Alpha Start Time, End Time, & Details
Not Quite Two Weeks
The Marathon closed alpha will commence on April 23 at 10 AM PDT and run until May 4 at 10 AM PDT, offering a total of 11 days to participate. According to the FAQ on the Marathon website, “Invites will be issued both at the start of the Marathon Closed Alpha and continuously throughout the two-week testing phase.” Please note, any progress made during this period will not transfer to the official launch.
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The Marathon closed alpha will be accessible on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam, with no need for subscriptions to online services. Cross-platform play is enabled, allowing friends to team up as long as they are all part of the alpha test. However, each alpha code is platform-specific, and cross-save will not be available until the official launch. The game will require approximately 6 GB of storage space, making it feasible even for those with limited storage capacity, making the closed alpha a low-commitment opportunity.
