Marathon Server Slam: What PC and console Runners Should Prioritize in the Open Playtest

Mo. Basuony

Published: February 26, 2026 6:17 PM ET

Marathon Server Slam: What PC and console Runners Should Prioritize in the Open Playtest

The Marathon Server Slam matters most for players who want to test the game before launch and lock in exclusive launch-day rewards. Marathon Server Slam runs as an open playtest from Feb. 26 to March 2 and will let Runners try core extraction gameplay while helping the developer scale global systems ahead of the March 5 release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. Ahead of the weekend, game director Joe Ziegler shared 11 tips for beginners, edited for clarity.

Who this weekend is for and what to prioritize during the Marathon Server Slam

If you plan to join, prioritize two things: treat the weekend as a stress test rather than a full demo, and focus on the introductory mission and steady progression so you bank rewards for launch. Here’s the part that matters: completing the intro mission and hitting Runner levels during the Server Slam converts into cosmetic and loot rewards that will be delivered after the March 5 launch. Joe Ziegler’s 11 tips are aimed at beginners and are meant to give new Runners a foundation for both surviving matches and helping the team gather useful data.

Event mechanics and schedule (embedded details)

The Server Slam is an open preview weekend designed as a technical stress test — the developer will turn everything on worldwide and invite as many players in as possible to log in, crew up, infil, exfil, log out, repeat. The test window runs from February 26 at 10: 00 a. m. PT / 1: 00 p. m. ET to March 2 at 10: 00 a. m. PT / 1: 00 p. m. ET. Play is free on compatible platforms for the weekend, with cross-play and cross-save enabled. Organizers will be standing by throughout to monitor performance and make adjustments; when systems break, the resulting data will be used to improve the March 5 launch experience.

Rewards, progression and what you can earn

Complete your first mission during the weekend: Unlock the Standard Arrival Cache (delivered at launch).
Reach Runner Level 10: Unlock the Enhanced Arrival Cache (Green) (delivered at launch).
Reach Runner Level 30: Unlock the Deluxe Arrival Cache (Blue) (delivered at launch).
Everyone who completes the introductory mission during the weekend will also earn a unique Beta. exe emblem and a Complex Study player background exclusive to Server Slam participants.

Cosmetic and loot rewards will be delivered once Marathon launches on March 5; rollout may take time, so if rewards don’t appear immediately in your account inbox after launch, hold tight. If you tune into public streams of Marathon during the Server Slam you can also snag additional cosmetic rewards for launch; full claim details will be posted on support pages.

What’s included, what isn’t, and how the game expands after launch

The Server Slam is a slice of the full game and will not include all maps and content coming to the main release. Marathon’s setting is the sci-fi world of Tau Ceti IV: a derelict space colony where Runners and hostile UESC security forces roam. The game’s timeline is set in the year 2893 — 99 years after the original Marathon — and hundreds of years after the colony was founded. Players will scavenge across maps that include futuristic research facilities, lush forests and other areas, working toward locations such as the Cryo Archive and the first floor of the UESC Marathon orbiting above.

At launch the game package will expand: an Outpost map will be available, and the Cryo Archive is scheduled to arrive during Season 1. The sixth Runner Shell, Thief, is planned for launch but will not be part of the Server Slam build. Ranked mode and additional content — zones, factions, contracts, gear, deeper progression and some secrets — are slated for Season 1.

Practical notes and small checklist before you jump in

Server Slam dates/times: Feb. 26 10: 00 a. m. PT / 1: 00 p. m. ET through March 2 10: 00 a. m. PT / 1: 00 p. m. ET.
Play platforms for the weekend include PC and current-gen consoles with cross-play and cross-save enabled; the event will appear on participating digital storefront programming tied to the preview weekend.
Treat the weekend as a technical stress test: expect interruptions, use early matches to learn extraction flow, and focus on the intro mission to secure exclusive cosmetics.

If you’re wondering why this keeps coming up in pre-launch coverage: the Server Slam is designed to collect real-world scale data and give new Runners early access to the systems and rewards that will define launch-day progression. It’s easy to overlook, but these test weekends often shape live stability and reward rollouts more than any later patch.

Writer’s aside: the most valuable outcome for players isn’t just a cosmetic — it’s leaving the weekend better prepared for the full release and any Ranked systems that follow.

Marathon launches on March 5 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC; the Server Slam is your chance to learn the ropes, contribute to stability, and bank early rewards before Season 1 expands the game further.