Bungie Announces Marathon Server Slam: Dates, Free Access & Exclusive Rewards

• Event: Marathon Server Slam
• Dates: Thursday, February 26, 2026 (10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT) to Monday, March 2, 2026 (same time)
• Access: Free for all players on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. No pre-order or sign-up required; simply download the client.
• Key Feature: Crossplay and cross-save enabled.
• Progress Carryover: Player progress does NOT carry over to the full game, but ALL rewards EARNED during the Slam DO carry over.
• Exclusive Rewards: Unique emblem and player background for completing the intro mission, plus escalating caches of implants, Runner shell cores, weapon chip mods, and weapons for reaching Runner Levels 10 and 30.

Alright, Guardians and Runners, listen up! After nearly a year of radio silence following a rather… *underwhelming* closed alpha, Bungie is finally cracking open the doors to Marathon with a full-blown Server Slam. Forget what you thought you knew about Tau Ceti; this is a whole new arena, and it's time for everyone to jump in, push the systems, and put those servers through their paces.

Our take? A Server Slam is Bungie's shrewd move to ensure we're not stuck in networking purgatory on launch day. It's also a golden ticket for us to get hands-on with the game for free, helping us decide if we'll be splashing our hard-earned cash on the full version. And let me tell you, there are some seriously juicy rewards on offer that will give you a major head start.

Marathon Server Slam: Dates & How to Get In

Mark your calendars, because this is a tight window. The Marathon Server Slam kicks off on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT and runs until the same time on Monday, March 2, 2026. That's a solid weekend of testing, folks.

Open Access for All

The best part? No hoops to jump through. This isn't some exclusive club. The Server Slam is completely free to all players across PC (via Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. You won't need to pre-order or even sign up. Our expectation is that you'll simply download the test client from your platform's digital storefront once it goes live.

Seamless Crossplay & Cross-Save

Bungie's confirmed that crossplay and cross-save will be enabled for the Server Slam. This is huge! It means you can squad up with your buddies regardless of their platform, and you can pick up your progress right where you left off if you switch from, say, your PC to your console. While player progression won't carry over to the full game (we'll update if Bungie clarifies otherwise), your *rewards* absolutely do. Which brings us to...

The Juicy Rewards That Carry Over

This is where the Server Slam really shines. Participating isn't just about stress-testing servers; it's about snagging some serious loot that will get your full game account off to a flying start. We're talking weapons, cosmetics, and other in-game goodies.

How to Unlock Your Head Start:

• Complete the first mission: Just by finishing the intro, you'll earn a 'unique emblem and player background' – a cool flex to show you were there from the very beginning. You also get the "Standard Arrival Cache" which includes:
  • 6x Standard implants
  • 4x Standard Runner shell cores
  • 6x Standard weapon chip mods
  • 1x Overrun and Hardline weapons
• Reach Runner Level 10: Hit this milestone and you're upgrading to the "Enhanced Arrival Cache (Green)," packed with:
  • 6x Enhanced implants
  • 2x Enhanced Runner shell cores for each shell (that's a sweet 12x total)
  • 4x Enhanced weapon chip mods
  • 1x Enhanced Magnum and Enhanced Hardline weapons
• Reach Runner Level 30: For the dedicated grinders, hitting Level 30 unlocks the "Deluxe Arrival Cache (Blue)":
  • 3x Deluxe and 3x Enhanced implants (6x total)
  • 2x Deluxe and 2x Enhanced weapon chip mods (4x total)
  • 1x Deluxe Magnum and 1x Enhanced Volley Rifle
  • 1x Deluxe Base Backpack

What You'll Be Slamming: Available Content

While this isn't the full game, Bungie assures us there's "enough to get comfortable" and really dig into Marathon's core mechanics. We're getting a solid chunk to explore and test.

Server Slam Content Includes:

• Two Infiltratable Zones:
  • Perimeter: An edge-site expansion, perfect for getting a feel for the outskirts of the colony.
  • Dire Mash: The colony's agricultural research hub – expect some unique environmental challenges here.
• Early Faction Contracts: You'll get to experience early contracts and delve into the progression trees for five of the six launch factions: CyberAcme, NuCaloric, Traxus, MIDA, and Arachne. Sekiguchi Genetics is being held back for launch.
• Runner Shells: Test five of the six launch shells: Assassin, Destroyer, Recon, Triage, and Vandal. The Thief shell is reserved for later. You can also get a taste of the solo scavenger shell, Rook, meaning both crew play and lone wolf strategies are on the table.
• Proximity Chat: A critical feature for team coordination (or hilarious enemy encounters) that we'll be putting to the test.

Looking Ahead: Launch & Season 1 Content

Bungie also gave us a peek at what's coming soon after the Server Slam, both at launch and into Season 1. This includes two more zones (Outpost and Cryo Archive), the missing Thief shell and Sekiguchi Genetics faction, and the highly anticipated Ranked mode during Season 1. Plus, we're promised "other secrets and surprises" – classic Bungie teasing!

Get ready to download that client, Runners. This Server Slam is our first real opportunity to kick the tires on the new Marathon, secure some sweet gear, and help Bungie ensure a smooth launch. Don't let those players with prior playtest experience have the upper hand; knowledge is power. Get locked and loaded!