Bungie has announced a Server Slam free weekend for its extraction shooter Marathon, ahead of its launch next month.
After a tumultuous run-up to launch, with delays and controversies over stolen art, Bungie’s Marathon is finally on the home straight.
The extraction shooter launches on March 5, and during Sony’s latest State Of Play it was given the spotlight via a new trailer. It was arguably the best showcase of Marathon yet, even if the trailer largely disguised the fact it’s a multiplayer shooter.
The key takeaway was the announcement of a Server Slam ‘open preview weekend’, which will give you a chance to try it out for free ahead of its launch next month.
When does the Marathon open beta start and end?
Marathon’s Server Slam will begin several weeks from now on Thursday, February 26 at 6pm GMT. It will then run until Monday, March 2 at 6pm GMT.
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The beta will be available across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam, with cross-play and cross-save enabled.
What will be available in the Marathon Server Slam?
Bungie states the Server Slam will serve a ‘slice’ of Marathon’s gameplay, featuring two zones: an edge-site expansion called Perimeter and an agricultural research hub named Dire Marsh.
You’ll be able to take on contracts for five factions (CyberAcme, NuCaloric, Traxus, MIDA, and Arachne) and progress through early faction levels. Five of the six character classes, aka ‘Runner Shells’, will be available in the beta, along with the ‘Rook’ shell which is specific to the scavenger mode. Solo queue and proximity chat will also be enabled.
Will progress carry over from the Server Slam?
While your Server Slam progress won’t carry over to the final game, you will earn rewards for hitting certain requirements.
Everyone that completes the introductory mission will receive a unique emblem and player background, but there are other rewards for hitting specific milestones. You can find a list of these below.
Rewards for playing Marathon’s Server Slam
Complete your first mission to 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 to 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 to 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
What will be added at Marathon’s launch?
When Marathon debuts on March 5, priced at £34.99, the full game will come with two more zones (Outpost and Cryo Archive), a sixth Runner shell called Thief, full progression across all factions, ranked mode, and ‘other secrets and surprises’ according to Bungie.
Those playing on PlayStation 5 will receive a set of exclusive weapon charms too, based on Helldivers 2, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, and Ghost of Yōtei. Bungie states there will be weapon charms for PC and Xbox players too, but these haven’t been revealed yet.
If you fancy loading up on more cosmetics, there’s a Marathon deluxe edition priced at £49.99. This comes with 200 SILK rewards pass tokens, weapon and Runner cosmetics, and a premium rewards pass voucher.
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