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Marathon: Server Slam (February 26 – March 2, 2026)

Play Marathon before the official launch!

The Important Details

A Marathon Server Slam will be open to all players from February 26 at 10AM PT through March 2 at 10AM PT.
The preview will be available on Steam, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, with cross-play and cross save.
There will be launch rewards for participating the intro mission and making progress throughout the weekend.
- However, progression WILL NOT carry over to the actual game release – just your launch rewards.
- There will also be Twitch Drops enabled.
There may be periodic maintenance or down time as Bungie stress test their servers…expect some turbulence!

February 25, 2026

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MARATHON SERVER SLAM PREVIEW WEEKEND

Bungie’s Marathon is hosting a Server Slam open preview weekend from February 26 at 10 AM PT through March 2 at 10 AM PT, giving players an early chance to jump into the game before its full launch on March 5.
The Server Slam is a large-scale technical stress test designed to push the game’s global infrastructure. Players can expect login queues, possible disconnects, and short-notice maintenance as Bungie monitors performance and prepares for launch.
The preview will be available on:
- Steam
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X|S
Cross-play and cross-save will be fully supported during the event.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE SERVER SLAM?

The Server Slam offers a limited slice of launch content, including:
- Two playable zones on Tau Ceti IV: Perimeter and Dire Marsh
- Early contracts for five factions: CyberAcme, NuCaloric, Traxus, MIDA, and Arachne
- Early faction progression and upgrade trees
- Five of six Runner shells available at launch, plus the scavenger experience “Rook”
- Solo play, full crews, and proximity chat alliances (or betrayals)
This is not the full game. Additional zones, progression depth, Ranked mode, the sixth Runner shell (Thief), and endgame content will arrive with launch and Season 1.

LAUNCH REWARDS

Players who complete the introductory mission during Server Slam will unlock exclusive cosmetic rewards at launch, including:
- Beta.exe emblem
- Complex Study player background
Progress during the weekend also unlocks Arrival Caches containing launch loot, earned by:
- Completing the first mission
- Reaching Runner Level 10
- Reaching Runner Level 30
Server Slam progression itself does not carry over, but earned rewards and loot caches will be delivered at launch on March 5.

TWITCH DROPS

Players can also earn additional cosmetic rewards by watching Marathon streams on Twitch during the Server Slam window.
By linking Bungie and Twitch accounts and watching streams in the Marathon category, viewers can earn multiple rewards that will be delivered at launch.

HOW IT WORKS…

Link your Bungie and Twitch accounts!
Watch Marathon streams during the Server Slam window.
- Any stream in the Marathon Twitch category will count.
Earn Twitch Drops that will be granted to your Bungie.net profile and delivered in-game at launch on March 5.
- Twitch Sponsored Kit may take up to 48 hours to arrive in your in-game Mailbox and must be redeemed by March 31.

AVAILABLE TWITCH REWARDS…

Twitch Sponsored Kit, aka Standard in-game loot (Watch for 1 hour)
Profile Emblem: SMILEYworm (Watch for 1 hour)
Profile Background: WEAVEworm (Watch for 2 hours)
Weapon Sticker: GLOWworm (Watch for 3 hours)
Weapon Skin (Style): HMG Twitch Engine (Watch for 4 hours)

WHAT TO EXPECT & FAQ

The Server Slam is intentionally less stable than launch.
- Login queues, bugs, disconnects, and downtime are expected as Bungie tests its systems at scale.
The goal is simple: stress the servers now so launch day runs smoother.

FAQ

When is the Server Slam?

From February 26 at 10 AM PT to March 2 at 10 AM PT.

Where can I play?

The Server Slam will be available on:

Steam
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X|S

You do not need a PlayStation Plus membership to participate in the Server Slam. Once Marathon launches, an active online subscription service will be required to play on console.

Can I preload for Server Slam?

No, preloading will not be available for the Server Slam.
- This will help lessen the load on Bungie’s servers when they first go live.
However, Preloading will be available for Marathon’s launch.

Is cross-play and cross-save supported?

Yes. Cross-play and cross-save will be active for the Server Slam, just like they will be at launch.
You will be able to play with friends across platforms and carry your account between them.

Is this the full game?

No. The Server Slam is an open preview weekend that represents a slice of Marathon’s launch content and progression.
When Marathon launches and Season 1 kicks off, you can expect additional zones, factions, contracts, gear, progression depth, the Thief Runner shell, Ranked, and some secrets some secrets you’ll have to experience yourself.

Does my Server Slam progression carry over to launch?

Your Server Slam progression will not carry over to launch. However:
- Your earned launch rewards (emblem, player background, Twitch Drops) will be granted to your account on March 5
- Your Arrival Caches filled with loot will be delivered to your account on March 5th to help jumpstart your first runs; earn better loot for reaching Runner Level 10 and Runner Level 30
- The experience you gain learning zones, contracts, and shells will give you a head start on day one

When do I get my rewards?

In-game Server Slam rewards (emblem, background, Arrival Caches) will be delivered to your account when Marathon launches on March 5th via the in-game mailbox.
- It’ll take a bit of time for Bungie to roll out the rewards to everyone, so if you login and don’t see them in your inbox, hold tight – Bungie says they should arrive soon!
Twitch Drops will be granted to your Bungie.net account after you meet the watch requirements and claim them on Twitch, and will appear in-game at launch.
- They may take up to 48 hours to arrive in your in-game Mailbox and must be redeemed by March 31.
If you run into any issues claiming or receiving rewards, Bungie’s support team will have a full troubleshooting guide available.

Why is it called a “Server Slam”?

Up until now, Bungie has been running monthly playtests to gather feedback about Marathon.
- These have been essential for improving Marathon alongside the community, but they haven’t had the chance to test their technical infrastructure at scale.
This weekend is all about slamming Bungie’s servers with as many active players as possible.
- You bringing your friends and hammering the queues will help Bungie find and fix technical issues before Marathon’s launch on March 5.

Will there be bugs, queues, or downtime?

Yes. You should expect this to be less stable than launch.
- Login queues are likely
- Disconnects and error codes may occur
- Bungie might need to bring servers down for emergency maintenance
Bungie will communicate status updates on their official channels and will be actively monitoring telemetry throughout the weekend.
- If you want to make sure you’re looking at the right places, feel free to join the Marathon Official Discord, follow @MarathonDevTeam on Twitter and Bluesky.
- You can also follow Bungie Server Status on Twitter or check the Server Status web page for the latest info.

Which regions and languages are supported?

The Server Slam will be available worldwide, with localized text and voice over for all of Bungie’s supported languages.