Bungie Marathon Server Slam Is Live — How to Download, Play, and Earn Rewards Before March 2
The Bungie Marathon Server Slam is underway right now, giving players their first open public look at Bungie's highly anticipated extraction shooter before its full release. The Marathon Server Slam runs from February 26, 2026 at 10 AM PT through March 2, 2026 at 10 AM PT — that is 1:00 PM ET on both dates. The event closes in hours, so time is running short to download and play.
Marathon Server Slam Start Time and End Time in ET
The Marathon Server Slam start time was 1:00 PM ET on Thursday, February 26. The Marathon Server Slam end time is March 2, 2026 at 10:00 AM PT, which converts to 1:00 PM ET on Monday, March 2. Players in the eastern United States have until 1:00 PM ET today to complete the event and secure all available rewards before the servers close.
The Marathon Server Slam beta is available on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, with cross-play and cross-save enabled across all three platforms. Bungie confirmed no PlayStation Plus membership and no Xbox Game Pass subscription is required to participate for the duration of the Server Slam window.
How to Download the Marathon Server Slam
Bungie confirmed there was no preload for this test window, meaning downloads only opened once the event went live on February 26. The Marathon Server Slam download is available directly through the Steam store page, the PlayStation Store on PS5, or via Xbox's Free Play Days program on Series X|S.
For PC players, the Marathon system requirements are not especially demanding by modern standards. Bungie recommends prioritizing a stable frame rate over maximum visual settings, since the extraction shooter format punishes stutters and input lag more severely than a typical multiplayer game.
What Is in the Marathon Server Slam Beta
The Server Slam build includes two zones, five factions with early contracts, five Runner shells plus Rook, and key systems including cross-play, cross-save, and proximity chat. The available content represents a deliberately limited slice of the full game — additional maps, Runner shells, gear, and contracts are confirmed for the March 5 launch and Season 1.
The Marathon build used for the Server Slam launched with almost 150,000 concurrent players without significant server instability, which Bungie described as a strong sign heading into full launch. The test has not been without issues — players have raised complaints about a mouse input bug on PC and UI design that many describe as cluttered and difficult to read at a glance.
Marathon Server Slam Rewards — What Carries Over to Launch
Progression earned during the Server Slam will reset, but earned rewards carry over at launch, including Arrival Caches and Twitch Drops. Rewards are delivered at launch via the in-game mailbox. Bungie structured the reward system in tiers, encouraging players to complete the reward milestones early in the event window rather than waiting until the final hours.
Players who participate in or watch the Server Slam can earn multiple rewards for Marathon's launch on March 5, including tiered gear packages and cosmetic Twitch Drops tied to watch time ranging from one to four hours. Viewers do not need to play to earn the Twitch Drops — linking a Bungie account to a Twitch account and watching any Marathon stream during the event window is sufficient.
Marathon Game Release Date — What Comes Next
The Marathon release date is March 5, 2026 — just three days after the Server Slam closes. Bungie positioned the Server Slam directly ahead of launch as a final stress test of server infrastructure at scale, and by most accounts the test has delivered the data the studio needed. The full Marathon game arrives on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on March 5.
