Marathon’s Server Slam Is Almost Here

It is almost time to light up Tau Ceti. 

Marathon’s Server Slam, our open preview weekend*, runs from February 26 at 10 AM PT to March 2 at 10 AM PT. This is your chance to jump in, play Marathon before launch, and help us spin up our global infrastructure at scale for the very first time. 

You will be able to play on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with cross-play and cross-save enabled. 

We are also excited to be part of Steam Next Fest, so you will see Marathon there as well! 

 

Let us talk about what this weekend is really about. 

The Server Slam is a technical stress test. We are turning everything on worldwide, inviting as many of you in as we can, and then watching the systems closely as you do what you do best: log in, crew up, infil, exfil, log out, repeat. 

Because of that, you should expect this to feel a little different from a standard launch weekend: 

• You will likely see login queues, especially during peak hours 

• We may need to bring servers down for maintenance on short notice 

• You may run into disconnects, error codes, and bugs 

We will be standing by throughout the weekend to address issues, monitor performance, and make adjustments as needed. When something breaks, that is data we can use to make our launch on March 5th all the better. 

The Server Slam is a slice of Marathon. The idea is simple: you get to feel what Marathon actually plays like, with much more waiting for you on March 5th. 

Across the weekend you will be able to:

• Infil into two zones on Tau Ceti IV:

  • Perimeter, an edge‑site expansion on the colony’s outskirts

  • Dire Marsh, the colony’s agricultural research hub

• Take on early contracts for five factions: CyberAcme, NuCaloric, Traxus, MIDA, and Arachne

  • Progress through early faction levels and upgrade trees for each of these five factions

• Try out five of the six Runner shells that will be available at launch, plus Rook, our scavenger experience

• Play how you like

  • Drop in as a Crew

  • Run solo

  • Form uneasy alliances in real time with proximity chat

  • Or test your foes’ diplomacy by making those alliances fall apart using the aforementioned prox chat

This is a preview weekend, not the full game. When Marathon launches and Season 1 kicks off, you can expect additional zones, factions, contracts, gear, progression depth, Ranked, and some secrets you’ll have to experience yourself.

Launch and Season 1 will bring... 
 

• The late-game zones Outpost and Cryo Archive 

• Full contract and progression depth for all factions 

• Ranked mode 

• The sixth Runner shell Thief 

• Season 1 unlocks, or end-game content 

• And much more! 

If you join us starside during the Server Slam, we want you to arrive on launch day looking and feeling ready for all the dangers of Tau Ceti. 

Everyone who completes the introductory mission during the weekend will unlock a unique Beta.exe emblem and Complex Study player background that mark you as part of the first wave of Runners. These cosmetic rewards will be exclusive to Server Slam participants. 

On top of that, time spent during the Slam will bank loot rewards for launch, based on how far you progress: 

Complete your first mission: Unlock the Standard Arrival Cache 

• Standard implants (6x) 

• Standard Runner shell cores (4x) 

• Standard weapon chip mods (6x) 

• Weapons: Overrun and Hardline 

Reach Runner Level 10: Unlock the Enhanced Arrival Cache (Green) 

• Enhanced implants (6x) 

• Enhanced Runner shell cores (2x for each shell, 12x total) 

• Enhanced weapon chip mods (4x) 

• Weapons: Enhanced Magnum and Enhanced Hardline 

Reach Runner Level 30: Unlock the Deluxe Arrival Cache (Blue) 

• Deluxe and Enhanced implants (3x each, 6x total) 

• Deluxe and Enhanced Runner shell cores (1x each for each shell, 12x total) 

• Deluxe and Enhanced weapon chip mods (2x each, 4x total) 

• Weapons: Deluxe Magnum and Enhanced Volley Rifle 

• Backpack: Enhanced Base Backpack 

Cosmetic and loot rewards will be delivered once Marathon launches on March 5th. It’ll take a bit of time for us to roll out the rewards to everyone, so if you login and don’t see them in your inbox, hold tight – they should arrive soon!

If you like to watch as much as you like to run, we have something for you too. 

Throughout the Server Slam weekend, you will be able to tune in to anyone streaming Marathon on Twitch and snag a set of cosmetic rewards for launch. Full details on how to secure and claim your rewards will be available on our support pages, but here is the overview:

• 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 https://Bungie.net profile and delivered in‑game at launch on March 5th

    • Twitch Sponsored Kit may take up to 24 hours to arrive in your in‑game Mailbox and must be redeemed by March 31.  

  There are five Twitch Drop rewards available during the Server Slam weekend, so grab your snacks (NuCal or otherwise) and secure them before launch. 

  • 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) 

   

We'll be sharing everyone's run clips on Marathon's social media accounts throughout Server Slam! If you want a shot at being featured, add #marathonthegame to your social media posts on Twitter and TikTok. Or join our Discord and drop your content in the #run-clips channel.   

Here are some tips and watchouts: 

• Disable notification sounds, popups, and overlays from other programs like Discord or recording software. We can't show those! 

• Avoid excessive HDR; we want to spotlight the game's out-of-the-box look and feel. 

• Don't add outside music or sounds. 

• Keep voice chat focused on Marathon 

NOTE: Your in-game name and voice comms (if included) will be made public if we share your clip. Please ensure everyone in your crew knows you're recording, and don't post a clip if you don't have their permission! 

Whether you’re here to be a loot goblin, third-party some unsuspecting crews, run real-time combat readiness tests with the UESC, or just to see what Marathon feels like to play – we’d love to have you join us in the Server Slam. 

Jump in, crew up, stress the servers, earn your launch rewards, and help us get ready for March 5th. 
 

We’ll see you on Tau Ceti IV. 

*Gameplay at full launch requires internet access and paid-for subscription on console (sold separately). 

We know you have questions. Here are answers to some of the big ones. 

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

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. 
 

No, preloading will not be available for the Server Slam. This will help lessen the load on our servers when we first go live. 
 
Preloading will be available for Marathon's launch. 
 

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. 

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. 

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 5th 

• 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 
   

• 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 us to roll out the rewards to everyone, so if you login and don’t see them in your inbox, hold tight – they should arrive soon!  

• Twitch Drops will be granted to your https://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 24 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, our support team will have a full troubleshooting guide available. 

Up until now, we’ve been running monthly playtests to gather feedback about Marathon. These have been essential for improving Marathon alongside the community, but we haven’t had the chance to test our technical infrastructure at scale. 

This weekend is all about slamming our servers with as many active players as possible. You bringing your friends and hammering the queues will help us find and fix technical issues before we launch on March 5th. 
 

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 

• We may bring servers down for emergency maintenance 

We will communicate status updates on our 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 or follow MarathonDevTeam on Twitter and Bluesky. You can also follow Bungie Server Status on Twitter or check out the Server Status web page for the latest info. 

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