Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, has officially entered its final stretch before launch, kicking off a “Server Slam” event that is already posting formidable numbers on PC. Within just hours of the playtest going live, the title surged to a concurrent player peak of over 143,000 on Steam alone. This early momentum suggests a significant level of consumer interest that persists despite the various developmental hurdles and public controversies that have trailed the project since its initial reveal.
The open preview weekend serves as a critical technical gauntlet for Bungie’s infrastructure. Available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC until March 2, the event is designed to stress-test server stability under heavy load before the retail version arrives on March 5. For a studio traditionally known for the curated, cooperative experiences of Halo and Destiny, this transition into the high-stakes, competitive extraction genre represents a pivotal shift in their portfolio, making this smooth initial turnout even more vital for long-term confidence.
Players participating in the playtest are restricted to a specific slice of the Tau Ceti IV colony. The available content includes two distinct zones: Perimeter, which focuses on the edge-site expansion of the colony’s outskirts, and Dire Mash, an agricultural research hub. While the full release will naturally offer more variety, this weekend provides access to five of the six Runner Shells and five different contracts, giving the community enough tactical variety to understand the gameplay loop without exhausting the full experience before day one.
As the industry watches closely, the success of this Server Slam indicates that the appetite for a high-production extraction shooter remains high. While Steam numbers offer the most transparent look at the game’s immediate reach, the cross-platform nature of the test means the actual total engagement is likely much higher. Bungie now has a narrow window to iron out any remaining technical kinks discovered during this surge before Marathon officially hits shelves next week.
