Bungie Will Host a Marathon Server Slam Test Just Ahead of Launch Next Month
Bungie is gearing up to put Marathon through a real world stress test ahead of launch. The studio confirmed a Server Slam Test that will run from February 26 to March 2, giving players on PC and PlayStation 5 a free, no signup required window to jump in and help hammer the backend before release.
The announcement landed alongside a new gameplay trailer shown during State of Play, before game director Joe Ziegler followed up by streaming more of the game with Twitch creators TheBurntPeanut and Gingy. The trailer leans into Marathon’s narrative framing while sprinkling in more combat beats, then transitions into the practical headline: Bungie wants the servers to feel battle ready on day one.
Bungie is positioning this as a meaningful slice of the early game, not just a limited tech check.
During the test, players will be able to:
Play for free on PC and PS5 without pre registration
Drop into two zones, Perimeter and Dire Marsh
Try all six core Runner shells, plus the seventh Rook shell designed for solo players
Take on the first five contracts to get a feel for the game’s opening progression and survival loop
If you participate in the Server Slam and later buy the full game, you will also unlock a special emblem and player banner in the release build.
Bungie is also leaning into the PlayStation ecosystem with weapon charms for PlayStation Plus players, themed around other PlayStation Studios titles. The three charms are inspired by Helldivers 2, Ghost of Yotei, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
Marathon is currently set to launch on March 5, 2026 for PC and PS5, and the timing is strategic. Extraction shooters are having a moment, but they are also a brutally competitive space where first impressions and stability matter more than almost anything. A clean Server Slam can build confidence, while a rough one can define the narrative before launch even hits.
If you jump into the Server Slam, are you testing Marathon as your next main game, or are you coming in as a skeptic to see if Bungie can stick the landing?
