Marathon is getting a ‘Server Slam’ today, opening up the game ahead of launch to give players a chance to play for free over the weekend. This feels like somewhat of a make-or-break moment, given the fact that the game is priced at $40. It’s scheduled to release next month on March 5; the Marathon Server Slam Playtest is set to kick off today on February 26.

Marathon was announced back in May 2023, and it was originally planned to be released in September that year. Obviously, that didn’t happen, and a disappointing closed alpha test of the game was another reason for developers to spend some extra time in the kitchen, go back to the drawing board, and make some improvements based on the feedback.

What is the Marathon Server Slam?

The Marathon Server Slam Playtest is being held to give players a taste of what the developers have created. The first playtest was not incredibly well-received, but Bungie has now made several improvements. The good news is that it will be free for everyone to try until March 2, meaning players will get a few days to decide if they want to spend their hard-earned money on it when it launches on March 5.

If you’re interested in trying it, you can download it for free on your platform – PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X|S – once it goes live. You don’t have to sign up anywhere or wait in a queue, though Bungie notes there may be “login queues” during peak hours, as it is a technical stress test for the servers after all.

The Server Slam is a technical stress test. We are turning everything on worldwide, inviting as many of you in as we can, and then watching the systems closely as you do what you do best: log in, crew up, infil, exfil, log out, repeat.

Because of that, you should expect this to feel a little different from a standard launch weekend:

• You will likely see login queues, especially during peak hours
• We may need to bring servers down for maintenance on short notice
• You may run into disconnects, error codes, and bugs

We will be standing by throughout the weekend to address issues, monitor performance, and make adjustments as needed. When something breaks, that is data we can use to make our launch on March 5 all the better.

Source: Bungie

This playtest will let you explore two maps, Perimeter and Dire Marsh, try six Runner Shells, take on opening contracts, and more. Also, the loot you gather during the playtest will carry over to the full game if you decide to purchase it.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.