Marathon Server Slam Preview Weekend Kicks Off Feb. 26 as Bungie Scales for March 5 Launch

The Marathon Server Slam opens on Feb. 26 at 10 AM PT and runs through March 2 at 10 AM PT, giving players early access across Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S before the full release on March 5. The short preview matters because it is a global technical stress test designed to surface issues that Bungie will fix ahead of launch.

Marathon Server Slam: platforms, schedule and what players can experience

The open preview weekend will let users on Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S join with cross-play and cross-save enabled. The Server Slam begins Feb. 26 at 10 AM PT and closes March 2 at 10 AM PT, offering a limited slice of Marathon’s gameplay ahead of the March 5 launch and the start of Season 1. Players should expect the weekend to feel different from a standard release because Bungie is intentionally turning on systems worldwide and watching performance at scale.

What’s playable in this window is a preview rather than the full game: the Server Slam is designed to let runners log in, crew up, infil, exfil and log out while infrastructure is monitored. Those actions will produce the operational data Bungie needs to refine matchmaking, server performance and platform interoperability before the full rollout.

Bungie details rewards, progression thresholds and post-Slam delivery

Bungie is offering immediate incentives for participation. Everyone who completes the introductory mission during the weekend will unlock a unique Beta. exe emblem and a Complex Study player background, cosmetic rewards exclusive to Server Slam participants. Time spent in the preview will also bank loot for launch: completing the first mission unlocks the Standard Arrival Cache; reaching Runner Level 10 unlocks the Enhanced Arrival Cache (Green); and reaching Runner Level 30 unlocks the Deluxe Arrival Cache (Blue).

Those cosmetic and loot rewards are slated to be delivered once Marathon launches on March 5. Bungie warns that distribution will take some time after launch, so players who do not see rewards immediately in their inboxes are asked to wait for the rollout. In addition, viewers who tune into Twitch streams during the Server Slam will be able to claim a separate set of cosmetic rewards tied to streaming activity, with full claiming instructions available on support pages.

Bungie’s operational aims and the pathway to launch

The Server Slam is explicitly framed as a technical stress test: Bungie will stand by throughout the weekend to address issues, monitor performance and make adjustments in real time. When something breaks, Bungie treats that as useful data to improve stability and player experience ahead of the March 5 launch. Because the team is turning on global systems simultaneously, the immediate effect should be clearer measurements of load handling, cross-play interactions and cross-save behavior across platforms.

What makes this notable is the combination of broad platform support and the decision to expose early progression to post-launch rewards; players who test the systems will also earn tangible launch benefits. The timing matters because the Server Slam’s five-day window ends less than a week before the full release, giving Bungie a narrow window to act on any critical findings.

Player guidance and what to expect during the weekend

Bungie emphasizes that the Server Slam is a slice of Marathon and not the complete experience: additional zones, factions, contracts, gear, deeper progression, Ranked systems and other content are reserved for the full launch and Season 1. Participants should anticipate interruptions as the developer monitors and tunes systems, and should plan for potential delays in reward delivery after March 5.

For spectators, the Server Slam will appear within Steam Next Fest programming and has streaming-linked cosmetics for viewers on Twitch. Players aiming to be ready for launch day are encouraged to use the preview to familiarize themselves with the basics and to bank the in-preview caches and cosmetics that will be released once Marathon goes live.