The Marathon Server Slam ran from February 26, 2026, at 10 a.m. PT, to March 2 at 10 a.m. PT. The limited preview has ended, and Marathon launched on March 5, 2026. This guide covers what the event included, how its rewards worked, and what carried into the full game.
When was the Marathon Server Slam?
Bungie’s worldwide open preview ran from February 26, 2026, at 10 a.m. PT, through March 2, 2026, at 10 a.m. PT. Although Bungie described it as a “preview weekend,” the dates span parts of four calendar days. The event is over.
For the original schedule, see Bungie’s Server Slam announcement.
What platforms and access did the preview support?
The preview was available worldwide on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with cross-play and cross-save. Gameplay required an internet connection. Bungie said PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass was not required to join the preview; after launch, console play required an active online subscription service. The access details appeared in Bungie’s Server Slam FAQ.
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What was included in the Server Slam?
Bungie characterized the event as “a slice of Marathon’s gameplay. Enough to get comfortable, not enough to see everything.” It was an introduction rather than the complete game.
- Zones: Perimeter and Dire Marsh.
- Contracts and faction progression: Early content for CyberAcme, NuCaloric, Traxus, MIDA, and Arachne.
- Runner choices: Five of the six Runner shells planned for launch, plus the Rook scavenger experience.
- Ways to play: Crews, solo Runner play, and proximity chat.
Bungie said the launch and Season 1 would add zones, contracts, deeper faction progression, the Thief shell, and Ranked mode. The preview’s scope and planned additions were outlined in the official announcement.
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- Four-player madness! - you can't spell Nippon marathon without 'P', 'a', 'R', 'T' And *checks letters* 'I', we suppose... Solo play is supported, but grab up to four pads and enjoy the supreme Silliness of gaming's greatest marathon.
- see all of Japan! - Cross the entirety of the land of Nippon in a series of creative courses spanning busy city streets, village lanes, bustling markets & More! Wacky characters! - Go toe-to-toe with some of the coolest contestants who ever did, player... Contest! Lobster-man J Darwin, onesie-obsessive Elizabeth nishibori, school uniform fan zenbei "xen bae" And the completely normal snuguru Maestro
- epic pratfalls! - swinging poles! Giant face-slapping fish! Cyclists! Shiba Inu! Panes of glass! Traffic! False doors! Barrels! Rolling Beams! Wobbly planks! Flying fruit! More Shiba Inu! Earthquakes!!!!!
- tons of surprises! - you never know what will happen next in Nippon marathon. Perhaps you'll find time for an impromptu spot of slot machine fun Maybe a news anchor will Jet Pack in to Interview you on the racetrack Heck, anything is possible...
- drop-in/drop-out play! - random pedestrian passing by your couch and wants to play Not a problem. Whatever the cause, Hop in and out for the ultimate, flexible party get-together!
What rewards did players earn?
Rewards for playing
Completing the introductory mission unlocked the Complex Study emblem and Beta.exe player background. Progress also earned Arrival Cache loot, with additional cache tiers listed for Runner Level 10 and Runner Level 30. Bungie corrected its Deluxe Arrival Cache rewards listing in the February 12 briefing’s February 24 update; consult the updated announcement for the corrected individual items.
Twitch Drops
Twitch Drops were separate from playing the preview. Bungie’s FAQ listed these rewards by qualifying watch time:
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| Watch time | Reward |
|---|---|
| 1 hour | Twitch Sponsored Kit and SMILEYworm emblem |
| 2 hours | WEAVEworm background |
| 3 hours | GLOWworm weapon sticker |
| 4 hours | HMG Twitch Engine weapon skin |
The watch-time requirements and redemption information were in Bungie’s pre-event FAQ.
Did Server Slam progress and rewards carry over?
Event progression did not carry over to the launched game. Bungie said earned cosmetics, Arrival Caches, and eligible Twitch Drops would be delivered to player accounts at launch; the FAQ warned that Drops could take up to 48 hours to appear in the in-game mailbox.
Rank #4
- Four-player madness! - You can't spell Nippon Marathon without 'P', 'A', 'R', 'T' and *checks letters* 'I', we suppose… Solo play is supported, but grab up to four pads and enjoy the supreme silliness of gaming's greatest marathon.
- See all of Japan! - Cross the entirety of the land of Nippon in a series of creative courses spanning busy city streets, village lanes, bustling markets & more!
- Wacky characters! - Go toe-to-toe with some of the coolest contestants who ever did, er… contest! Lobster-man J DARWIN, onesie-obsessive Elizabeth Nishibori, school uniform fan Zenbei "Xen Bae" and the completely normal Snuguru Maestro Epic pratfalls! - Swinging poles! Giant face-slapping fish! Cyclists! Shiba Inu! Panes of glass! Traffic! False doors! Barrels! Rolling beams! Wobbly planks! Flying fruit! More Shiba Inu! EARTHQUAKES!!!!!
- Tons of surprises! - You never know what will happen next in Nippon Marathon. Perhaps you'll find time for an impromptu spot of slot machine fun? Maybe a news anchor will jetpack in to interview you on the racetrack? Heck, anything is possible…
- Drop-in/drop-out play! - Random pedestrian passing by your couch and wants to play? Not a problem. Whatever the cause, hop in and out for the ultimate, flexible party get-together!
The stated Twitch Drop redemption deadline was March 31, 2026, and has passed. Bungie’s March 2 wrap-up also said Server Slam rewards would expire if players did not log into Marathon before Season 1 ended. That claim window is historical, not a current opportunity to collect the rewards. The wrap-up identified the cosmetic rewards as the Complex Study emblem and Beta.exe background: Bungie’s Server Slam wrap-up.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When did Marathon launch?
Marathon launched on March 5, 2026, for Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with cross-play and cross-save. Bungie confirmed the release in its launch-day announcement.
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