Alright listen up, cyber-gladiators. Bungie is finally letting us onto the planet Tau Ceti IV for the Marathon Server Slam starting tomorrow, and if you’re planning on going in blind, be careful because the security force is waiting to turn you into scrap metal.
You can find the same copy-pasted details on almost all of the big publications, but we’re here to make sure you don't just participate, but actually dominate.
1. When is Marathon Server Slam Going Live?
The gates to the battlefields swing open on February 26 at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET. If you’re in London, that’s 6:00 PM, and if you’re in Tokyo, you’re waking up at 3:00 AM on Friday like a true gamer.
The Slam will run until March 2, giving you exactly 4 days to prove you’re a better Runner than those guys in the trailers who keep getting exploded.
Marathon Server Slam Master Schedule : Feb 26 - March 2, 2026
| Region | City/Timezone | Start Time (Feb 26) |
| US Pacific | Los Angeles / Vancouver (PST) | 10:00 |
| US Mountain | Denver / Phoenix (MST) | 11:00 |
| US Central | Chicago / Mexico City (CST) | 12:00 |
| US Eastern | New York / Toronto (EST) | 13:00 |
| Brazil | São Paulo (BRT) | 15:00 |
| United Kingdom | London / Dublin (GMT) | 18:00 |
| Central Europe | Paris / Berlin / Rome (CET) | 19:00 |
| South Africa | Johannesburg (SAST) | 20:00 |
| Russia | Moscow (MSK) | 21:00 |
| Middle East | Dubai (GST) | 22:00 |
| Pakistan | Karachi (PKT) | 23:00 |
| India | New Delhi / Mumbai (IST) | 23:30 |
| China / HK | Beijing / Singapore (CST) | 2:00 AM (Feb 27) |
| Japan | Tokyo (JST) | 3:00 AM (Feb 27) |
| Australia | Sydney / Melbourne (AEDT) | 5:00 AM (Feb 27) |
| New Zealand | Auckland (NZDT) | 7:00 AM (Feb 27) |
2. The Rewards : Don't Be a 'Standard' Runner
Bungie is dangling 'Arrival Caches" in front of us like a carrot on a very high-tech stick. Here’s the breakdown of what you’re actually fighting for :
The Participation Trophy (Intro Mission) : Complete the tutorial and you get a unique emblem and background. It’s the badge of honor...digital honor.
The "I’m Trying" Tier (Level 10) : Reaching Level 10 will get you the Enhanced Arrival Cache. You'll get weapons like the Enhanced Magnum - for when you want to feel like you're in a cyberpunk dystopia.
The "No-Life" Tier (Level 30) : If you hit Level 30, you get the Deluxe Arrival Cache. This includes the Deluxe Magnum and the Enhanced Volley Rifle. This is the gear that says, "I haven't slept for 48 hours, and I'd do it again."
3. The Secret Sauce : Platform Exclusives
This is where it gets interesting.
- If you’re playing on PlayStation, you get weapon charms themed after Ghost of Yōtei and Helldivers 2.
- Steam users get a Crowbar charm (legendary symbol of the Half-Life franchise). And no, it doesn't confirm Half-Life 3, but it’ll make you feel like Gordon Freeman while you're getting shot at.
- Xbox players get the Emerald Clutch and Catch charms - because green is the color of money (not as much as Sony's PS5 though), apparently.
4. Know Your Shells (And the One That’s Missing)
You get to play with 5 out of the 6 launch Runner shells: Assassin, Destroyer, Recon, Triage, and Vandal. Plus, everyone gets the 'Rook' experience.
The Mystery: The "Thief" shell seems to be absent from this playtest. Is it because it’s too OP? Or is Bungie just being a tease? Nobody's sure enough.
5. Strategy : Don't Just Shoot, Loot
The Slam features two zones: Perimeter (the suburbs of the apocalypse) and Dire Marsh (the swamp where all the Runners go to die).
Pro-Tip: Focus on the contracts for the five available factions (CyberAcme, NuCaloric, etc.) early. These will be your ticket to those Level 30 rewards.
6. The "Cheater" Warning (The John Wick Rule)
Bungie is using this weekend to live-test their anti-cheat. They’ve basically said that if you’re caught hacking during the Server Slam, you’re caught for LIFE. No second chances. They will Thanos-snap your account before the game even launches on March 5. Play fair, or prepare to "retire" permanently.
OrbeatX Verdict
The Marathon Server Slam is your one chance to get a head start. The loot you earn now is waiting for you at launch. So, grab your crew, set your proximity chat to "maximum chaos," and we'll see you in the Marsh.
Try not to die. It’s bad for your K/D.