Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon is getting a free open preview event across all platforms before its March 5 launch. The Server Slam runs February 26 through March 2 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, with full cross-play and cross-save from day one. No pre-order or invite code is needed.
The event opens up two playable zones, five factions, most of the launch Runner shells, and a full set of rewards that carry into the retail release. It's the first time the general public gets hands-on time with Marathon after Bungie went dark following the game's indefinite delay in June 2025. The scope of the test is larger than early rumors suggested, functioning less as a simple server stress test and more as a proper open preview of the game's core loop.
Server Slam Dates and Start Times
The Server Slam kicks off February 26, 2026, and wraps up on March 2, 2026, giving players four full days to explore Tau Ceti IV. Bungie is running a synchronized global launch, so every player drops in at the same moment regardless of region.
- Start: February 26 at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM GMT
- End: March 2 at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM GMT
Regional start times break down as follows:
| Region | Local Date | Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| West US (Los Angeles) | February 26, 2026 | 10:00 AM PST |
| East US (New York) | February 26, 2026 | 1:00 PM EST |
| South America (São Paulo) | February 26, 2026 | 3:00 PM BRT |
| UK (London) | February 26, 2026 | 6:00 PM GMT |
| Central Europe (Berlin/Paris) | February 26, 2026 | 7:00 PM CET |
| Middle East (Dubai) | February 26, 2026 | 10:00 PM GST |
| East Asia (Tokyo) | February 27, 2026 | 3:00 AM JST |
| Australia (Sydney) | February 27, 2026 | 5:00 AM AEDT |
For players in Europe and Asia, the launch lands in the evening or early morning hours of the following day, so plan accordingly.
Platforms and Cross-Play
Marathon's Server Slam supports PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Steam. Xbox players were confirmed alongside the other platforms, so this isn't a PlayStation-only test.
Cross-play and cross-save are both active during the event, so players jumping between platforms can keep their progress synced by linking accounts through the Bungie.net portal ahead of time.
Marathon is also part of Steam Next Fest during this window.
How to Join
The Server Slam is open to everyone. Here's the process:
- Find the Server Slam listing on your platform's store. Search for Marathon and look for the "Server Slam" or "Open Preview" tile, not the main pre-order listing.
- Link your Bungie.net account. This ensures all Arrival Caches, emblems, and rewards carry over to the full launch.
- Set up cross-save if needed. Players planning to switch between PC and console should link accounts through Bungie's portal before the event starts.
Download Size and Pre-Load
Pre-loading isn't available since the Server Slam runs on a separate client from the retail game. The download goes live on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and Steam at the exact launch time.
The client is relatively small, though, coming in around 12 to 16 GB depending on the platform. That's a fraction of the estimated 42 GB for the full retail build, so even players with slower connections should be able to get in without too much wait.
Playable Content
Bungie describes the Server Slam as "a slice of Marathon's gameplay. Enough to get comfortable, not enough to see everything." The four-day window covers a decent chunk of what the game has to offer at launch.
Zones
Two zones on Tau Ceti IV are open during the event:
- Perimeter, an edge-site expansion on the colony's outskirts, offering a wide-open environment.
- Dire Marsh, the colony's agricultural research hub.
Both zones serve as the setting for faction contracts and extraction gameplay. More zones are coming at full launch, but these two give a strong first look at how Marathon's PvPvE loop plays out in practice.
Factions
Early contracts are available for five of the game's six factions, along with their opening progression trees:
- CyberAcme
- NuCaloric
- Traxus
- MIDA
- Arachne
Players can work through early faction levels and start climbing their upgrade paths. The sixth faction, Sekiguchi Genetics, is reserved for the full launch and won't appear during the Server Slam.
Runner Shells
Five of the six Runner shells planned for launch are playable, each with a distinct gameplay style. The sixth shell, Thief, won't be available until March 5. Players also get access to a scavenger experience called Rook, which fills a different role from the standard Runner shells.
Solo play, crew-based runs, and proximity chat alliances are all supported, so the Server Slam covers each of Marathon's intended playstyles.
What's Reserved for Launch and Season 1
Bungie is holding back a fair amount of content for the full release and beyond:
- Two more zones: Outpost (a UESC military installation) and Cryo Archive (an endgame zone aboard the derelict UESC Marathon, arriving in Season 1)
- Thief, the sixth Runner shell
- Full faction progression for all six factions, including Sekiguchi Genetics and deeper upgrade trees
- Ranked mode (Season 1)
- Additional contracts, gear, and what Bungie calls "other secrets and surprises"
All Server Slam Rewards
Character levels and raw gear from the Server Slam don't carry over to the full game. Instead, Bungie has set up a Banked Loot system where hitting milestones during the event unlocks Arrival Caches, which are bundles of gear and weapons waiting at launch. For players who grind deep into the Server Slam, this translates to a much stronger start on day one compared to going in empty-handed.
Participation Reward
Completing the introductory mission earns a unique emblem and player background exclusive to Server Slam participants. Everyone who takes part also receives a commemorative player banner. These items mark players as part of the first wave of Runners.
Standard Arrival Cache (Complete Your First Mission)
- Standard implants (6x)
- Standard Runner shell cores (4x)
- Standard weapon chip mods (6x)
- Weapons: Overrun and Hardline
Enhanced Arrival Cache / Green (Reach Runner Level 10)
- Enhanced implants (6x)
- Enhanced Runner shell cores (2x per shell, 12x total)
- Enhanced weapon chip mods (4x)
- Weapons: Enhanced Magnum and Enhanced Hardline
Deluxe Arrival Cache / Blue (Reach Runner Level 30)
- Deluxe and Enhanced implants (3x each, 6x total)
- Deluxe and Enhanced Runner shell cores (1x per shell, 12x total)
- Deluxe and Enhanced weapon chip mods (2x each, 4x total)
- Weapons: Deluxe Magnum and Enhanced Volley Rifle
- Backpack: Deluxe Base Backpack
All rewards become available when Marathon launches on March 5. The Level 30 Deluxe cache is the top-end prize for players willing to put serious time into the four-day event.
PlayStation Plus Weapon Charms
PS5 players with an active PlayStation Plus subscription get three exclusive weapon charms based on Sony first-party titles:
- Ghost of Yotei: Onryo Weapon Charm
- Death Stranding 2: Battle Guitar Weapon Charm
- Helldivers 2: For Freedom Weapon Charm
These charms are redeemable from the PlayStation Store when Marathon launches on March 5, not during the Server Slam itself. Bungie has confirmed that weapon charms for Steam and Xbox players will also be available.
Pre-Order Bonuses
The Server Slam doesn't require a pre-order, but buying the game early does come with its own set of extras. Pre-order rewards include weapon cosmetics, an emblem, and a player background for launch, plus a set of Destiny 2 rewards tied to your Bungie.net account.
Marathon is available to pre-order on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-orders have already pushed the game onto Steam's best-seller list.
New Trailers Break Down PvP and PvE
Bungie dropped two new trailers ahead of the Server Slam, giving a closer look at Marathon's combat from both the competitive and cooperative sides.
The first, titled "DEATH AWAITS," focuses entirely on PvP. It shows multiple archetypes in action, with the Assassin standing out through stealth kills and target isolation. The trailer drives home how dangerous each run can be, with ambushes and aggressive threats around every corner.
The second trailer covers co-op and PvE. A four-player squad is shown working together, with two players teaming up alongside two Rooks, the looter support characters. Whether Rooks can always be trusted isn't made clear, but teamwork is presented as the best way to stay alive longer. Commander enemies that drop Gold-quality loot make an appearance as a PvE highlight.
The trailer also shows off the proximity-based voice chat system, where audio becomes more muffled as players move farther apart. Teams will need to think about positioning and formations carefully since communication breaks down at range.
Marathon's Road to Launch
Marathon was first revealed in 2023 as a PvPvE extraction shooter set on the distant colony world of Tau Ceti IV. The game's lore follows the UESC Marathon, which left Mars in 2472 carrying 30,000 colonists. Three hundred years later, the ship and colony went silent. Players take on the role of Runners investigating what happened.
The road to launch has been rocky, though. Closed testing drew negative player feedback, prompting Bungie to overhaul major parts of the game. Marathon was then delayed indefinitely in June 2025, with the studio saying it needed more time to "craft Marathon into the game that truly reflects your passion." Bungie also settled a case following art plagiarism allegations during development.
After months of silence, Bungie resurfaced with a March 5, 2026 release date and a $40 price point. Public reception has warmed since then, with pre-orders trending well on the PS Store charts and Steam's best-seller list. Questions remain about whether the game can find its footing in a crowded extraction shooter market alongside competitors like ARC Raiders.
Marathon is the latest entry in the franchise that started back in 1994, with sequels in 1995 and 1996. The new game arrives 30 years after the last installment in the series.
Marathon officially launches March 5, 2026 on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
