Marathon Server Slam Kicks Off Open Preview Weekend Ahead of March 5 Launch
The marathon server slam opens players to Marathon before its full release, and it matters because Bungie will use the weekend as a large-scale technical stress test ahead of the March 5 launch. The marathon server slam runs across multiple platforms and offers exclusive cosmetics and launch-bound loot tied to weekend progression.
Marathon Server Slam schedule and platforms
The Server Slam begins on February 26 at 10: 00 a. m. PT (1: 00 p. m. ET) and runs through March 2 at 10: 00 a. m. PT (1: 00 p. m. ET). Players can join on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with cross-play and cross-save enabled for all platforms. Bungie has also included Marathon in Steam Next Fest during this open preview weekend.
Bungie frames Server Slam as a technical stress test
Bungie describes the weekend as a technical stress test: the studio will turn everything on worldwide and invite as many players as possible to exercise the systems. Because the goal is to pressure infrastructure at scale, Bungie will stand by throughout the weekend to monitor performance and make adjustments. When systems break, that failure data will be used to improve the game ahead of its March 5 launch.
Rewards: Beta. exe emblem, Complex Study background and Arrival Caches
Everyone who completes the introductory mission during the weekend will unlock a unique Beta. exe emblem and a Complex Study player background reserved for Server Slam participants. Weekend play also banks loot for the game's 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). Bungie says those cosmetic and loot rewards will be delivered once Marathon launches on March 5 and cautions that it may take a short while to roll them out to all players.
Joe Ziegler's 11 tips for beginners
Marathon game director Joe Ziegler shared a set of 11 tips aimed at new players ahead of the Server Slam. The guidance was collected and edited for clarity by a games outlet to help newcomers get a basic sense of how Marathon plays on the planet Tau Ceti. The tips arrive as the open weekend begins and are positioned as foundational advice for players who want to make the most of the preview.
Twitch drops, Steam Next Fest inclusion and launch timeline
For viewers, Bungie is offering cosmetic rewards tied to Twitch streams: during the Server Slam weekend, tuning in to anyone streaming Marathon on Twitch will make cosmetic rewards available for the game's launch. Full details on how to secure and claim those rewards will be published on Bungie's support pages. The Server Slam is explicitly a preview and not the full game; when Marathon launches on March 5 and Season 1 begins, players can expect additional zones, factions, contracts, gear, deeper progression, Ranked play, and other secrets left for players to discover.
What makes this notable is that Bungie is using an open, limited preview not only to show players a slice of the game but to collect operational data under real-world load—an approach designed to reduce launch-day risk and refine multiplayer performance. The timing matters because the Server Slam concludes less than a week before the scheduled March 5 release, allowing Bungie a narrow window to address issues revealed during the stress test.
