Marathon Server Slam Kicks Off This Weekend Ahead of March 5 Launch
The Marathon Server Slam runs from February 26 at 10 a. m. PT/1 p. m. ET to March 2 at 10 a. m. PT/1 p. m. ET, offering a free, cross-play preview on Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S that doubles as a global technical stress test ahead of the game's March 5 launch.
What players will be doing during the Server Slam
The weekend is a live preview meant to “turn everything on worldwide, ” invite as many players as possible and watch systems closely as players log in, crew up, infil, exfil and log out. Bungie will have teams standing by throughout the weekend to monitor performance, address issues and make adjustments; when something breaks, that data will be used to improve the March 5 launch.
Platforms, access and festival presence
During the Server Slam the game is available to play on Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S with cross-play and cross-save enabled. The Server Slam is also part of Steam Next Fest. The playtest will be free on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PS5 for the weekend.
Marathon Server Slam: rewards and progress locks for launch
Everyone who completes the introductory mission during the Server Slam unlocks a Beta. exe emblem and Complex Study player background exclusive to Server Slam participants. Time spent during the weekend also banks loot rewards that will be delivered once Marathon launches on March 5; rollout may take time, so players who don’t immediately see items in their inbox are advised to wait.
- Complete your first mission: Unlock the Standard Arrival Cache
- Reach Runner Level 10: Unlock the Enhanced Arrival Cache (Green)
- Reach Runner Level 30: Unlock the Deluxe Arrival Cache (Blue)
Maps, setting and modes included — and what’s not
Marathon is set on Tau Ceti IV, a derelict space colony where Runners and hostile UESC security forces roam. The game’s timeline is listed as year 2893, 99 years after the events of the original Marathon game and hundreds of years after the colony’s founding. Maps in the Server Slam comprise futuristic research facilities and lush forests on the planet surface; players can work toward the Cryo Archive, the first floor of the UESC Marathon orbiting above.
The Server Slam is a slice of the full game and will not include every map and feature coming at launch. At launch the game will include additional content — Outpost and Cryo Archive are named as maps coming into the live game, with Cryo Archive noted to arrive during Season 1 — and more features, including Ranked mode, will arrive when Season 1 begins.
Runner shells, streams and tips from the director
The sixth Runner Shell, Thief, will be available at launch but not during the Server Slam. Players who prefer to watch can tune in to streamers on Twitch during the Server Slam and claim a set of cosmetic rewards for launch; full claiming instructions will be published on the game’s support pages. Marathon game director Joe Ziegler shared 11 tips for beginners ahead of the Server Slam to help new players get started.
Marathon launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on March 5. The next confirmed milestones are the close of the Server Slam on March 2 at 10 a. m. PT/1 p. m. ET and the full launch and reward distribution scheduled for March 5, with Season 1 bringing additional zones, factions, contracts, gear, progression depth and Ranked play.
