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Marathon Server Slam Draws 143,000 on Steam as Free Stress Test Goes Live

Bungie is using the free cross-play stress test to push its servers before the March 5 launch.

Overview

  • SteamDB reported roughly 142,000–143,600 concurrent PC players within hours of today’s start, triggering login queues and some installation errors.
  • The open preview runs Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. PT through March 2 at 10 a.m. PT on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam with cross-play and cross-save enabled.
  • Progress from the weekend will not carry to release, but playing unlocks tiered Arrival Cache rewards credited at launch and an emblem/background for completing the intro.
  • Twitch Drops are live during the event, with cosmetics earned for 1–4 hours of viewing and a Sponsored Kit that Bungie says may take up to 48 hours to appear in in-game mail.
  • The slam features a limited slice of content—two zones (Perimeter, Dire Marsh), contracts from five factions, and five Runner shells plus Rook—and preloading is disabled as Bungie warns of queues and possible maintenance.