**Excerpt: Marathon Closed Alpha Announcement and Review**
Bungie’s upcoming team-based extraction shooter, *Marathon*, a reboot of its 1994 classic, is set to launch a closed alpha from April 23 to May 4, 2025, offering players an early taste of its PvPvE gameplay on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. To join, gamers in North America (with PlayStation codes extending to South America) must sign up via the [Marathon Discord](https://discord.gg/marathonthegame) by typing “/alpha” in the #alpha_access channel and completing a survey, though access isn’t guaranteed and comes with a strict NDA. Featuring four characters and two maps, the alpha promises *Destiny*-style gunplay in a high-stakes looting experience, as detailed in [GameSpot’s article](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/marathon-closed-alpha-begins-in-april-heres-how-to-sign-up/1100-6533058/). For gamers, this is a thrilling chance to shape Bungie’s next big title, but the region lock and exclusive sign-up process have sparked some frustration on X. While the alpha’s limited scope and technical focus may temper expectations, its potential to blend Bungie’s polish with extraction shooter intensity makes it a must-try for FPS fans, earning a cautious 7.5/10 for its promise and accessibility hurdles.
