It's Happening...

Summary

In this video, the creator discusses the upcoming open beta for Bungie's 'Marathon,' set to release prior to the full game on March 5th. The beta will likely be announced soon, with expectations for it to take place in mid-February. The focus of the open beta is to generate interest and advertise the game, rather than gather feedback. Viewers can expect to try out various playable shells, a new map, and a range of weapons. The creator emphasizes the importance of this beta for converting players into paying customers, ahead of the game's full launch.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Marathon open beta will be available to everyone for free, giving players a chance to try the game before its full release on March 5th.
• 😀 The open beta is expected to be announced soon, possibly within this week, as Bungie has already confirmed its existence.
• 😀 The beta is likely to take place in the second or third week of February, around February 13th to 15th, based on typical AAA game beta timelines.
• 😀 The main purpose of the open beta is marketing, not feedback collection or testing. Bungie is using it to build excitement and attract players.
• 😀 Server stability is one of the few things Bungie may monitor during the beta, but with Destiny 2’s established infrastructure, it's unlikely that major server tests will occur.
• 😀 Marathon has been content-complete for months, with the focus now on small bug fixes and balancing rather than adding new content for the beta.
• 😀 The beta is not primarily for player feedback. Instead, Bungie hopes to generate buzz and increase pre-launch visibility, using players to spread awareness through streaming and word-of-mouth.
• 😀 The beta will feature six playable shells, including two new ones, Thief and Triage, allowing players to experience unfiltered gameplay of all characters.
• 😀 The beta will include three maps: Dire Marsh, Perimeter, and Outpost, with Outpost being a new addition for raw gameplay testing.
• 😀 Some of the game’s loot will be available in the beta, though certain items may be withheld for official launch, and data miners will likely uncover all loot during the playtest.
• 😀 Bungie could include special gameplay features during the beta, such as boosting loot or AI difficulty on the final day to showcase endgame content, but it’s more likely they will stick to the early gameplay loop.

Q & A

What is the purpose of Marathon's open beta?

The open beta for Marathon is primarily for marketing purposes. It's not aimed at gathering feedback for testing, but rather to attract players, get them interested, and hopefully convert them into paying customers. Bungie also wants to increase the game's visibility through streaming and player interactions.

When is the expected announcement for Marathon's open beta?

The announcement for Marathon's open beta is expected to happen sometime during the first week of February. With only four weeks until the game's launch on March 5th, it’s likely that Bungie will make the announcement soon to give players time to prepare.

What date range is the beta expected to happen?

The beta is expected to take place in the second week of February, from the 13th to the 15th. This timing would allow players to try out the game, build excitement, and have a few weeks to settle before the full release.

How important is the open beta for testing game features?

The open beta is not really for testing features or collecting feedback on the gameplay itself. Bungie has already completed most of the game's development, so the beta's main focus is on advertising, increasing exposure, and getting more players to try the game.

What kind of technical issues is the open beta expected to focus on?

While the open beta is not meant for large-scale testing, it may help Bungie observe server performance and identify any potential congestion issues or technical difficulties that could arise when large numbers of players are online.

What content will be available in Marathon's open beta?

In the open beta, players will be able to try out six playable shells, including new ones like Thief and Triage, as well as familiar ones like Assassin and Destroyer. Players will also get access to three maps—Outpost, Dire Marsh, and Perimeter—along with a variety of weapons and loot.

How many maps will be available in the beta and what is the fourth map?

The beta will feature three maps: Outpost, Dire Marsh, and Perimeter. A fourth map, Marathon's Cryo Deck, is expected to be released after the game's launch, as it is tied to endgame content like the raid activity.

Will the beta include all the weapons available in the game?

Yes, the beta is expected to feature all the weapons that were shown in the closed alpha builds of the game. However, miscellaneous loot might be limited, with some items being selectively available for testing.

Can players expect any special gameplay events during the beta?

There is a possibility that Bungie may introduce dynamic gameplay events in the final days of the beta, such as increasing the loot drop rate or upping the AI difficulty to give players a taste of endgame content. However, this is more speculative, and Bungie may choose to stick to the early gameplay loop for the beta.

Why is Bungie running the open beta so close to the game's launch date?

Bungie is running the open beta close to the launch date to generate excitement and momentum leading up to the full release. This timing allows players to engage with the game, and for Bungie to fine-tune any last-minute adjustments before the official launch on March 5th.