An open beta for Bungie’s upcoming shooter Marathon is coming very quickly. Introduced throughout Sony’s current State of Play, the open beta is coming to all platforms–PS5, PC, and Xbox Sequence X|S–and will happen February 26 by means of March 2.
The “server slam,” because it’s known as, will let gamers strive the sport on the low price of $0 simply earlier than it releases on March 5. Briefly, when you’re inquisitive about Marathon, that is your probability to strive it out earlier than you need to plunk down cash to get in.
When is the Marathon open beta?
The Marathon open beta, or server slam as Bungie desires us to name it, runs February 26 by means of March 2. The precise occasions might be seen beneath.
Begin time: February 26 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET
Finish time: March 2 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET
How to get in to the Marathon open beta
Bungie didn’t share specifics on how precisely you can entry the open beta. Nonetheless, it ought to hopefully be so simple as navigating to the sport’s retailer web page in your most well-liked platform and launching from there. We’ll circle again with extra specifics if Bungie shares them.
What’s within the Marathon open beta
In the course of the server slam, gamers will get to expertise an “introduction to Marathon’s gameplay.” This consists of “sufficient to get comfy, not sufficient to see the whole lot,” in line with Bungie.
Here’s what’s within the Marathon open beta, as written by Bungie:
- Infil into two zones:
- Perimeter, an edge-site growth on the colony’s outskirts
- Dire Marsh, the colony’s agricultural analysis hub
- Tackle the early contracts for 5 factions: CyberAcme, NuCaloric, Traxus, MIDA, and Arachne
- Progress although the early faction ranges and development bushes for every faction
- Check out 5 of the six Runner shells that will likely be obtainable at launch, plus our scavenger expertise Rook
- Play as a crew, solo Runner, type uneasy alliances with proximity chat, and extra
Rewards for enjoying the Marathon open beta
Bungie is encouraging folks to strive the Marathon open beta by providing up rewards within the type of additional gear. Individuals who full the introductory mission will get a “distinctive emblem and participant background,” whereas gamers can unlock extra content material at sure milestones. The perks will likely be obtainable when Marathon launches in March. Here is the rundown (as written by Bungie):
- Full your first mission: Unlock the Customary Arrival Cache
- Customary implants (6x)
- Customary Runner shell cores (4x)
- Customary weapon chip mods (6x)
- Weapons: Overrun and Hardline
- Attain Runner Stage 10: Unlock the Enhanced Arrival Cache (Inexperienced)
- Enhanced implants (6x)
- Enhanced Runner shell cores (2x for every shell, 12x complete)
- Enhanced weapon chip mods (4x)
- Weapons: Enhanced Magnum and Enhanced Hardline
- Attain Runner Stage 30: Unlock the Deluxe Arrival Cache (Blue)
- Deluxe and Enhanced implants (3x every, 6x complete)
- Deluxe and Enhanced Runner shell cores (1x every for every shell, 12x complete)
- Deluxe and Enhanced weapon chip mods (2x every, 4x complete)
- Weapons: Deluxe Magnum and Enhanced Volley Rifle
- Backpack: Deluxe Base Backpack
PlayStation Plus perks for the Marathon open beta
PlayStation Plus subscribers are getting particular bonuses for participating within the server slam. These embody weapon charms primarily based on different Sony video games, together with Ghost of Yotei, Loss of life Stranding 2, and Helldivers 2. These embody:
- Ghost of Yōtei – Onryō Weapon Appeal
- Loss of life Stranding 2 – Battle Guitar Weapon Appeal
- Helldivers 2 – For Freedom Weapon Appeal
You possibly can see pictures of those weapon charms beneath.
PS Plus members can redeem these from the PlayStation Retailer in March when Marathon launches. Moreover, Bungie mentioned there will likely be weapon charms for Steam and Xbox gamers, however the studio isn’t sharing particulars on these simply but.
The existence of an open beta is not any shock, as Bungie mentioned in January that it could provide a free check for the sport for everybody sooner or later earlier than launch.
Everybody who takes half within the server slam will get a particular emblem and participant banner that denotes that they performed the beta.
Marathon has endured a number of controversies already, with Bungie settling a case after artwork plagiarism allegations, whereas the studio has additionally confronted questions on whether or not video games like Marathon are remnants of the previous. In GameSpot’s preview of Marathon from April 2025, GameSpot’s Tamoor Hussain mentioned, “A paid recreation that’s gentle on content material however stuffed with hopes, goals, and ambitions is probably not sufficient to encourage in others the identical confidence I’ve in Bungie.”
Marathon was delayed indefinitely in June 2025, with Bungie writing on the time that it wanted extra time to “craft Marathon into the sport that really displays your ardour.” Bungie went darkish for a while earlier than not too long ago resurfacing to announce a March 5 launch date at a $40 value level.
Preorders alone have pushed Marathon into Steam’s best-seller checklist, so there are indicators of momentum forward of launch.
Marathon is the newest entry in Bungie’s sequence, which started in 1994. Sequels have been launched in 1995 and 1996, that means the brand new Marathon is popping out 30 years after the final one.