Marathon Server Slam weekend opens with over 143,000 players on Steam. Check out how the final beta is going so far, and the rewards players can earn during the weekend.
Marathon Server Slam Weekend Off To A Great Start
Over 143,000 Players On Its First Day
Marathon hit the ground running for its Server Slam weekend, reaching a peak of over 143,621 concurrent Steam players according to SteamDB. The highly anticipated extraction shooter is free to play until March 2 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, as developer Bungie stress-tests servers ahead of the game's official launch next week.
Right out of the gate, the Marathon Server Slam cracked Steam’s top 10 best-sellers list, surpassing popular titles like PUBG and Marvel Rivals, and even briefly overtaking ARC Raiders during its first day. While it has yet to reach ARC Raiders’ peak playtest record of 189,000 players, Marathon still has several days to bridge the gap, especially with the weekend rush ahead.
Marathon’s Server Slam offers a substantial preview of the game, featuring two explorable zones (Perimeter and Dire Marsh), contracts from the five factions (CyberAcme, NuCaloric, Traxus, MIDA, and Arachne), and five of the six playable Runner Shells (Destroyer, Vandal, Recon, Assassin, and Triage), with the bonus scavenger-style character, Rook.
Those who participate in the open beta weekend can also earn extra rewards that carry over to the full game. This includes loot caches that contain weapons and other in-game items, a unique Beta.exe emblem, and a Complex Study player background.
Server Slam Twitch Drops
During the Server Slam weekend, Bungie will also host a Twitch Drops campaign, offering a variety of cosmetic rewards based on the total time fans spend watching Marathon streams. The exclusive bonuses and required watch time are as follows:
● 1 Hour - Twitch Sponsored Kit, aka Standard in-game loot and Profile Emblem: SMILEYworm
● 2 Hours - Profile Background: WEAVEworm
● 3 Hours - Weapon Sticker: GLOWworm
● 4 Hours - Weapon Skin (Style): HMG Twitch Engine
It is important to note that players must link their Bungie and Twitch accounts to receive these rewards. The Twitch Drops will be delivered in-game at launch on March 5, and must be redeemed by March 31.
Player Feedback Response
As the Server Slam continues, fans have been submitting their feedback, which the developers have acknowledged. In an X (Twitter) post on February 27, the Marathon Development Team noted some of the issues players have experienced.
These concerns include mouse input causing lag, voice not working in-run, names changing to "Redacted," textures not loading, performance issues, confusing UI, and PvP frequency. The developers urged players to keep the feedback coming, as they will use this data to improve the game for its official launch next week.
Despite initial stability issues, Marathon’s Server Slam has secured a spot among the top 10 most-played games on Steam. While player counts are expected to rise over the weekend, that momentum may face competition from another PlayStation-affiliated title, Horizon Hunters Gathering, which begins its first closed playtest today.
Marathon is set to officially launch on March 5, 2026, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. To stay up to date with the latest information about the game, check out our article below!
Sources:
Marathon Server Slam SteamDB
Marathon’s Server Slam Begins February 26
Steam Top Selling Games Chart
Marathon Development Team X post on Player Feedback
