Marathon Server Slam: How to Play, Start Times & All Rewards That Carry Over to Launch

The long awaited Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon is about to open its doors to the world. The Server Slam, which is Marathon's open beta, runs from February 26 to March 2, 2026 and you can get in completely free on any platform. 

On launch day, everyone starts fresh with nothing. But players who completed the Server Slam get those Arrival Caches waiting in their account, with weapons like Overrun or enhanced Magnum, implants, cores and a better backpack. So instead of dropping into your first match naked and scavenging, you start day one already armed.

This article covers everything you need to know before Tau Ceti IV goes live. We’ll talk about things like start times, which content you can access, rewards and most importantly, how to make sure those rewards are waiting for you on launch day. 

Server Slam Start Time and End Time

The Marathon Server Slam runs for four days:

• Start: Thursday, February 26 at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM GMT
• End: Monday, March 2 at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM GMT

The full game launches just three days later on March 5, 2026, so think of the Server Slam as your head start to learn the maps, mechanics and Runner Shells.

Grinding to Level 30 in four days is no joke, especially if you're juggling work or other games launching the same week. KingBoost's Marathon boosting services can help you hit that threshold and secure the Deluxe Arrival Cache before the Server Slam ends.

How to Access the Server Slam

The Server Slam is available on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Cross-play and cross-save are enabled from day one, so you can squad up with friends on any platform and switch between devices without losing progress.

To get into the Server Slam:

1. Open your platform's store (Steam, PlayStation Store, or Xbox Store)
2. Search for "Marathon" and look for the Server Slam or Open Preview listing — not the main game pre-order
3. Download the client for free
4. Link your platform account to your Bungie.net profile before playing — this is required for your rewards to carry over
5. If you plan to switch between platforms, set up cross-save through the Bungie.net portal beforehand

What Content Is Available During the Server Slam

Bungie describes the Server Slam as "a slice of Marathon's gameplay - enough to get comfortable, not enough to see everything." Here’s what they got in store for players:

Two playable zones:

• Perimeter, an edge-site expansion on the outskirts of the colony
• Dire Marsh, the colony's agricultural research hub

Five of the seven Runner Shells:

• Assassin (stealth infiltrator)
• Destroyer (frontline tank)
• Recon (intel specialist)
• Triage (combat medic)
• Vandal (high-mobility disruptor)

The Thief Shell and Rook Scavenger Frame are not available during the Server Slam.

Five of six launch factions:

• CyberAcme
• NuCaloric
• Traxus
• MIDA
• Arachne

Sekiguchi Genetics is sadly excluded from the beta. You can work through early faction contracts and start exploring each faction's progression tree.

Crew and solo play are both available, with proximity chat enabled, so you can form uneasy alliances with strangers, just like the full game.

All Server Slam Rewards That Carry Over to Launch

Keep in mind that your character's level and gear progress will not carry over to the full game on March 5. Everything resets for launch. However, Bungie has set up a Banked Loot system, where if you hit certain milestones during the Server Slam, you unlock reward caches that'll be waiting in your account on the launch day.

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: Deluxe Base Backpack

Participation Rewards (Everyone)

• Unique Server Slam emblem (complete the intro mission)
• Exclusive player banner/background marking you as a first-wave Runner

These cosmetics are exclusive to the Server Slam since they won't be obtainable after March 2.

PlayStation Plus Bonus Rewards

PS5 players with an active PlayStation Plus membership get three bonus weapon charms at launch, themed after other Sony games:

• Helldivers 2 weapon charm
• Death Stranding 2 weapon charm
• Ghost of Yōtei weapon charm

These can be redeemed from the PlayStation Plus Exclusive Packs page when Marathon launches on March 5. Bungie has confirmed Steam and Xbox players will get their own platform-specific weapon charms, but details haven't been shared yet.

Want to hit the ground running on March 5 without spending your entire beta weekend grinding? KingBoost offers Marathon level boosting and launch-day preparation so you can walk into Tau Ceti IV fully stocked. 

Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Server Slam

Prioritize reaching Level 30. The Deluxe Arrival Cache is the biggest reward, and having enhanced weapons and a better backpack on launch day gives you a real edge over players starting from scratch.

Try all five Shells. This is your only free chance to test Marathon before spending $40. Each Shell plays completely differently — Destroyer is a tank, Assassin is a ghost, Vandal is chaos incarnate. Figure out your main now so you're not experimenting on launch day when the stakes are real.

Learn the two maps. Memorize extraction points, high-loot zones, and AI patrol routes in Perimeter and Dire Marsh. Map knowledge is king in extraction shooters, and players who grind the Server Slam will know these zones inside and out by March 5.

Link your Bungie.net account before you play. If you forget this step, your Banked Loot rewards won't sync to your account. Don't lose your Level 30 cache because of a missed login.

Squad up for faster leveling. The Server Slam only lasts four days. Running with a coordinated three-player crew is significantly faster and safer than solo queuing, especially when you're still learning the maps.

Marathon is a $40 one-time purchase, it's not free-to-play, so the Server Slam is the best way to find out if this is your kind of game before committing. Four days, zero cost and free launch-day gear if you put in the work. And if you'd rather skip the grind and start March 5 with every Arrival Cache unlocked, KingBoost has your back and our Marathon boosting team is ready from day one. See you on Tau Ceti IV.