Bungie’s Marathon* is breaking its silence with a free, open preview—and it’s not just a tease. The Server Slam event, running from Thursday, February 26 at to Monday, March 2 at , lets players dive into the game’s core mechanics, faction contracts, and even earn launch-day rewards—all without signing up or paying. The window is short, but the stakes are high: what you unlock now will be ready when Marathon officially launches on March 5.
The event spans Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with regional start times adjusted for local convenience. Players in the US Pacific can jump in as early as on February 26, while Australia and New Zealand will see the doors open at AEDT (Feb 27) and NZDT (Feb 27), respectively. No pre-orders or invitations are needed—just download the Server Slam build from your preferred storefront when it goes live.
What’s Actually Inside the Preview?
Bungie is serving up a subset of the full launch experience, but it’s still packed with content designed to give players a taste of what’s coming
- Two full maps: Perimeter and Dire Marsh—though Outpost, a staple of earlier tests, is notably absent.
- Five of six launch factions: CyberAcme, NuCaloric, Traxus, MIDA, and Arachne, each with early contracts, faction levels, and progression trees. Sekiguchi Genetics remains locked out for now.
- Five of six Runner shells: Assassin, Destroyer, Recon, Triage, and Vandal—plus the free Rook shell. The Thief shell is missing from this preview.
- Multiplayer modes: Squad and solo queue, complete with proximity chat. Cross-play and cross-save are fully enabled, so progress carries across platforms.
This isn’t just a technical demo—it’s a live, evolving experience. Players can team up, test faction contracts, and even earn rewards that will be ready for when the full game drops. The catch? Only the Server Slam period grants these bonuses.
Rewards: Cosmetics and Gear for Early Participants
The real hook for jumping in early is the exclusive loot and customization tied to progression. Completing the introductory mission alone unlocks a unique emblem and player background, serving as a badge of participation. But deeper rewards depend on how far you push
- Complete your first mission:
- Standard Arrival Cache: 6x standard implants, 4x standard Runner shell cores, 6x weapon chip mods, and the Overrun and Hardline weapons.
- Reach Runner Level 10:
- Enhanced Arrival Cache (Green): 6x enhanced implants, 12x enhanced shell cores (2 per shell), 4x enhanced weapon chip mods, plus the Enhanced Magnum and Enhanced Hardline weapons.
- Reach Runner Level 30:
- Deluxe Arrival Cache (Blue): A mix of deluxe and enhanced implants (3x each), 12x deluxe/enhanced shell cores (1x each per shell), 4x deluxe/enhanced weapon chip mods, the Deluxe Magnum, Enhanced Volley Rifle, and a Deluxe Base Backpack.
None of these rewards are visible during the preview—they’ll unlock in your inventory upon launch—but they’re tangible incentives to push through the event. The deeper you go, the better your starting gear when Marathon officially begins.
Why This Matters
For Bungie, the Server Slam is a stress test—a chance to iron out last-minute bugs, monitor player engagement, and fine-tune balance before the full release. For players, it’s an unprecedented opportunity to shape their launch experience. With no artificial barriers to entry, the event lowers the risk of missing out on early rewards or faction progression.
The only downside? Time. The preview closes at on March 2, meaning players have just four days to dive in. For those who’ve waited this long, it’s a rare chance to leave their mark on Marathon* before the rest of the world catches up.
