If you’ve been waiting to try Bungie’s new extraction shooter, the Marathon Server Slam is almost here. The open preview weekend runs from February 26 at 10 AM PT through to March 2 at 10 AM PT, giving players a few days to jump in before the full launch on March 5.
This Server Slam isn’t just a casual beta. It’s a global technical stress test for Marathon, designed to push the game’s infrastructure at scale for the first time. In short, Bungie wants as many of us logging in, forming crews, infil-ing and exfil-ing as possible so they can see what breaks before launch day.
Marathon Server Slam Release Date And Platforms
The Marathon Server Slam begins February 26 at 10 AM PT and ends March 2 at 10 AM PT. It will be available worldwide.
You can play on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Cross-play and cross-save are enabled, so you can squad up with mates across platforms and carry your account between them. Importantly, you do not need to purchase Marathon to access the Server Slam.
Console players also won’t need PlayStation Plus during the preview weekend. However, once Marathon fully launches on March 5, a paid online subscription will be required on console.
Preloading will not be available for the Server Slam. Bungie says this is to help manage server load when everything first goes live. Preloading will return for the full launch.
What Makes This A Server Slam
Bungie has been running smaller monthly playtests, but this is the first time all systems are being switched on globally.
Because it’s a stress test, players should expect login queues, disconnects, error codes, and even short-notice maintenance downtime. The goal is to “slam” the servers with as many active players as possible to gather telemetry and fix issues before March 5.
This also means the weekend may feel less stable than launch. Bungie has been upfront that things might break, and that’s very much the point.
Maps And Zones Available During Server Slam
- Perimeter, an edge-site expansion on the colony’s outskirts
- Dire Marsh, the colony’s agricultural research hub
These represent two of the four launch zones. The late-game areas Outpost and Cryo Archive will only be available once Marathon fully launches and Season 1 begins.
The Server Slam is described as a slice of the launch experience. It’s enough to get a feel for the pacing, gunplay, contracts, and progression systems, but not the full package.
Factions, Contracts And Progression
Five factions will offer early contracts during the preview:
- CyberAcme
- NuCaloric
- Traxus
- MIDA
- Arachne
Players can progress through early faction levels and upgrade trees for each of these. The sixth faction, Sekiguchi Genetics, will only unlock at launch.
While you can level up and experiment with upgrades, your overall progression will not carry over to the full game. Instead, your playtime translates into launch rewards.
Runner Shells And Playstyles
The Server Slam includes five of the six Runner shells planned for launch, plus Rook, described as the scavenger experience.
Available shells include:
- Destroyer
- Assassin
- Recon
- Vandal
- Triage
The sixth shell, Thief, will be added at launch alongside Ranked mode and expanded end-game content.
Players can run solo, drop in as a crew, or even form temporary alliances using proximity chat. And yes, you can betray those alliances just as quickly.
Marathon Server Slam Rewards And Arrival Caches
Even though progression resets, Bungie is offering exclusive rewards for participating.
Complete the introductory mission and you’ll unlock a unique Beta.exe emblem and Complex Study player background. These cosmetics are exclusive to Server Slam participants.
Beyond that, your progress unlocks Arrival Caches that will be delivered when Marathon launches on March 5.
Complete your first mission to earn the Standard Arrival Cache, which includes standard implants, Runner shell cores, weapon chip mods, and weapons like Overrun and Hardline.
Reach Runner Level 10 and you’ll unlock the Enhanced Arrival Cache, which upgrades your loot pool with enhanced implants, additional shell cores for each shell, enhanced weapon chip mods, and weapons such as the Enhanced Magnum and Enhanced Hardline.
Hit Runner Level 30 and you’ll earn the Deluxe Arrival Cache. This includes deluxe and enhanced implants, deluxe and enhanced Runner shell cores for every shell, deluxe and enhanced weapon chip mods, weapons like the Deluxe Magnum and Enhanced Volley Rifle, plus an Enhanced Base Backpack.
All of these rewards will be delivered via the in-game mailbox after launch. Bungie notes that rollout may take time, and Twitch Drops can take up to 48 hours to appear and must be redeemed by March 31.
Twitch Drops During The Server Slam
If you prefer watching before jumping in, the Marathon Server Slam also features Twitch Drops.
By linking your Bungie and Twitch accounts and watching streams in the Marathon category during the event window, you can earn cosmetic rewards for launch. Rewards include a Twitch Sponsored Kit, the SMILEYworm emblem, WEAVEworm background, GLOWworm weapon sticker, and the HMG Twitch Engine weapon skin style.
Any stream under the Marathon category counts, making it easy to stack rewards while learning the maps.
What Carries Over And What Does Not
Your faction progress, inventory, and character levels from the Server Slam will not carry over to launch.
What does carry over are your earned cosmetic rewards and Arrival Caches. On top of that, the experience you gain learning Perimeter, Dire Marsh, and the faction systems will naturally give you an advantage on day one.
With launch set for March 5 and Season 1 bringing additional zones, Ranked mode, the Thief Runner shell, and deeper progression, the Marathon Server Slam feels less like a simple beta and more like a final systems check before everything goes live.
For players curious about how Marathon actually feels to play, this weekend is the first large-scale chance to find out.