Marathon Confirms Server Slam Dates That Let You Play Early

This text was up to date on February 16, 2026, with an up to date and embedded model of the launch trailer. It was first printed on February 12, 2026.

Marathon followers will get their probability to attempt the sport out early earlier than it launches as Bungie revealed new particulars about its upcoming extraction shooter whereas additionally confirming Server Slam dates. The lengthy and winding growth highway for Marathon is shortly approaching the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel, with its launch solely just some weeks away. From an underwhelming alpha take a look at, numerous controversies like being accused of plagiarism, to a delay, Marathon has nearly seen all of it throughout its prolonged growth.

Essentially, Marathon‘s release delay into 2026 might have been the perfect factor for the sport, because it not solely prevented the juggernaut that’s ARC Raiders, and it is big launch final 12 months, but it surely gave the event staff extra time to additional refine the sport and add in extremely requested options like proximity chat. As well as, the out there shells, the characters that gamers can choose from, have been additionally given one other move, whereas new ones have been added to the launch roster just like the “free loadout” Rook and the fight medic often called Triage. For individuals who should be on the fence, Bungie is giving everybody an opportunity to go hands-on with Marathon earlier than it releases.

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Marathon Server Slam Dates

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

As a part of Sony’s PlayStation State of Play, Marathon was given the highlight to showcase extra of its world and what gamers can be diving into on March 5. Because the studio promised final month, Marathon is getting a Server Slam spinning up on February 26 at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET and operating via the weekend relating to an finish on March 2, simply days earlier than Marathon launches on March 5. Not solely does this give gamers an opportunity to take a look at Marathon and see if it is one thing their all for, Bungie can also be giving freely some rewards for launch.

Particularly, rewards can be earned based mostly on how far gamers progress through the Slam, with new gear being supplied for finishing the primary mission, hitting Runner Stage 10, after which Runner Stage 30. This is the complete breakdown:

Customary Arrival Cache – Full 1 mission

Customary implants (6x)
Customary Runner shell cores (4x)
Customary weapon chip mods (6x)
Weapons: Overrun and Hardline

Enhanced Arrival Cache – Attain Runner Stage 10

Enhanced implants (6x)
Enhanced Runner shell cores (2x for every shell, 12x whole)
Enhanced weapon chip mods (4x)
Weapons: Enhanced Magnum and Enhanced Hardline

Deluxe Arrival Cache – Attain Runner Stage 30

Deluxe and Enhanced implants (3x every, 6x whole)
Deluxe and Enhanced Runner shell cores (1x every for every shell, 12x whole)
Deluxe and Enhanced weapon chip mods (2x every, 4x whole)
Weapons: Deluxe Magnum and Enhanced Volley Rifle
Backpack: Deluxe Base Backpack

Needless to say the Marathon Server Slam is just a chunk of the complete sport. Gamers will solely be capable of discover two maps, Perimeter and Dire Marsh, primarily the primary two zones of the sport. By way of Marathon’s distinctive factions, solely 5 can be out there handy out contracts to gamers: CyberAcme, NuCaloric, Traxus, MIDA, and Arachne with Sekiguchi Genetics sitting out till launch. As well as, not all of Marathon‘s Runner shells can be out there, as Bungie confirmed solely 5 can be out there, together with the Rook. Followers of the Thief shell must wait till launch.

Rearrange the covers into the right US launch order.

Straightforward (5)Medium (7)Arduous (10)

A part of the reveal highlighted extra of Marathon‘s overarching narrative, which has solely been hinted at in favor of displaying off a lot of the moment-to-moment fight gamers can be participating in. The UESC Marathon colony ship departed with over 30,000 colonists on board to ascertain a brand new dwelling on Tau Ceti, however after arriving 300 years later, contact was misplaced. Now, scavengers and mercenaries are trying to scour the colony to unearth its secrets and techniques, funded by warring factions.

The ultimate shock was that PlayStation Plus subscribers may obtain some particular rewards as soon as Marathon launches. Particularly, 3 weapon charms that may be hooked up to weapons, paying homage to Ghost of Yotei, Demise Stranding 2, and Helldivers 2.

Launched: March 5, 2026
ESRB: Teen / Animated Blood, Language, Violence, In-Sport Purchases, Customers Work together
Multiplayer: On-line Multiplayer, On-line Co-Op