Marathon, Bungie's PvPvE extraction shooter set on the derelict colony of Tau Ceti IV, is offering everyone a chance to jump in before paying a dime. The game's Server Slam — essentially an open beta — runs from February 26 through March 2 on all platforms, completely free of charge. Marathon then officially launches on March 5, 2026.
Quick answer: Download the Marathon Server Slam from your platform's store (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or Steam) starting February 26 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM GMT. No purchase or pre-order is required.
Server Slam schedule and start times
The Server Slam window is tight — just under five days — so plan accordingly. Servers open on Thursday, February 26, and shut down on Monday, March 2. Both the start and end are set for 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM GMT. Cross-play and cross-save are fully enabled across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, so you can squad up regardless of platform.
Bungie hasn't detailed a specific download process beyond navigating to Marathon's store page on your preferred platform. Expect a standalone client or beta listing to appear on the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and Steam ahead of February 26.
What's playable during the Server Slam
The Server Slam delivers a curated slice of Marathon rather than the full experience. You'll have access to two of the game's four launch zones. Perimeter is an edge-site expansion on the colony's outskirts, while Dire Marsh serves as the colony's agricultural research hub. The other two zones — Outpost and Cryo Archive — are reserved for the full release.
Five of the six Runner shells available at launch are playable, along with the scavenger-focused Rook shell. The sixth shell, Thief, is being held back entirely for launch day. Early contracts for five factions — CyberAcme, NuCaloric, Traxus, MIDA, and Arachne — are available, and you can progress through their early faction levels and progression trees. Solo play, crew play, and proximity chat for forming uneasy alliances are all active.
Server Slam rewards that carry over to launch
Your overall progress from the Server Slam won't transfer to the final game — everyone starts fresh on March 5. However, Bungie is granting reward caches at specific milestones that will be waiting for you when the full game goes live. These give a meaningful head start with weapons, implants, shell cores, and mods.
Completing the introductory mission also earns a unique emblem and player background exclusive to Server Slam participants.
| Milestone | Reward Cache | Key Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Complete first mission | Standard Arrival Cache | 6 standard implants, 4 Runner shell cores, 6 weapon chip mods, Overrun and Hardline weapons |
| Reach Runner Level 10 | Enhanced Arrival Cache (Green) | 6 enhanced implants, 12 enhanced shell cores (2 per shell), 4 enhanced weapon chip mods, Enhanced Magnum and Enhanced Hardline |
| Reach Runner Level 30 | Deluxe Arrival Cache (Blue) | 6 deluxe/enhanced implants, 12 deluxe/enhanced shell cores, 4 deluxe/enhanced weapon chip mods, Deluxe Magnum, Enhanced Volley Rifle, Deluxe Base Backpack |
Hitting Runner Level 30 in roughly five days is a grind, but the Deluxe cache is substantial. The backpack alone gives extra carrying capacity that can make early full-launch runs far more profitable.
What the full launch adds on March 5
Marathon launches at $39.99 USD / £34.99 with significantly more content than the Server Slam preview. Two additional zones — Outpost, the smallest but reportedly most mechanically dense map, and Cryo Archive, the endgame zone with raid-like security puzzles — round out the map roster to four total. Cryo Archive may not be accessible immediately at launch, as Bungie appears to be gating it so players have time to gear up first.
The Thief Runner shell becomes available, bringing the total to six playable shells. Full faction progression, a ranked competitive mode, and additional unannounced features are also part of the day-one package. PlayStation 5 players get exclusive weapon charms themed around Helldivers 2, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, and Ghost of Yōtei. PC and Xbox charms have been confirmed but not yet revealed.
A deluxe edition is available for £49.99 / $49.99, bundling 200 SILK rewards pass tokens, weapon and Runner cosmetics, and a premium rewards pass voucher.
Tips for making the most of the Server Slam
With only two zones and five days, efficiency matters if you're chasing that Level 30 cache. Focus on completing faction contracts early — they provide consistent XP and unlock progression tree nodes that improve your loadout within the beta itself. Experimenting with multiple Runner shells is worthwhile since each plays differently, and the reward caches grant cores for every shell, not just the ones you used.
Rook is the default scavenger shell and a solid starting point for learning extraction fundamentals. Once you're comfortable with the flow of infiltrating, looting, and exfiltrating, branching into the more specialized shells will feel more natural.
The Server Slam is essentially the last public look at Marathon before money changes hands. Whether you're sold on Bungie's extraction shooter vision or just curious about what Tau Ceti IV has to offer, the free preview weekend removes any barrier to finding out for yourself.