Key Takeaways
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- Marathon reached a high concurrent player count of 143,621 during its Server Slam on Steam, falling short of competitors like ARC Raiders.
- The game is facing challenges in its development cycle, including leadership changes and divided opinions on artistic direction, but has received praise for its gunplay.
- Despite initial setup issues and queues, the test phase boosted preorders for Marathon, placing it among the top three best-selling games on Steam.
- The Server Slam will continue until March 2, 2026, with results indicating whether the initial enthusiasm translates into a stable player base at launch.
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Bungie launched the Server Slam for Marathon on February 26, 2026, as the final open test phase before its planned release on March 5, 2026. Within the first 24 hours, the extraction shooter reached a peak of 143,621 concurrent players on Steam. While surpassing 100,000 users is encouraging, comparisons to competitors in the market are inevitable. The open beta for ARC Raiders, for instance, reached 189,668 concurrent players on Steam. To match that Steam achievement, Marathon would need to attract over 40,000 more players during the weekend. The Server Slam also runs simultaneously on PlayStation and Xbox, meaning the total active player count likely exceeds the Steam count. This test phase is significant for Bungie, which has navigated a challenging development cycle involving leadership changes and uncertainties about the game’s direction. Community reception has been mixed, with praise for the gunplay offset by divided opinions on the artistic direction. Notably, the test phase boosted preorders for Marathon, unexpectedly surpassing ARC Raiders in Steam sales rankings and placing it among the top three best-selling games. High player traffic also caused queues and initial setup issues on Steam.
Marathon’s Server Slam Continues Through March 2026 – Predicting Stable Player Base at Launch
The Server Slam continues until March 2, 2026. The results of this period will indicate whether the initial enthusiasm translates into a stable player base at launch.
In Case You Missed It
Midway through our exploration of recent gaming trends, we’re excited to share several insightful articles with you! First up is Sophie Laurent’s deep dive into Resident Evil Requiem’s graphic prowess on PS5 Pro in her piece “Resident Evil Requiem Shines Brilliantly on PS5 Pro” (2026-02-27). She explores how the game’s stunning visuals are elevated to new heights on this platform, with Digital Foundry highlighting the unparalleled detail and lighting enabled by Ray-Tracing at 60fps. It’s a must-read for anyone eager to see what Requiem has to offer on high-end consoles – check it out here Resident Evil Requiem Shines Brilliantly on PS5 Pro. In other gaming news, Wildlight Entertainment is pulling out all the stops to revitalize their hero shooter Highguard. Carlos Mendoza’s article “Studio Desperately Tries to Prevent Highguard’s Collapse with New Update” (published Feb 27) dives into how the latest update aims to breathe new life into the game with the introduction of Raid Rush mode, designed to accelerate gameplay and boost player engagement. Give it a read here Studio Desperately Tries to Prevent Highguard’s Collapse with New Update and let’s hope Highguard finds its stride again! Lastly, our colleague Sophie Laurent explores the curious case of Dr. Disrespect and his claimed partnership with Bungie’s upcoming Marathon release in her latest article Dr. Disrespect Claims Official Partnership with Marathon, but Bungie Denies. Published on February 27, 2026, this piece delves into the buzz surrounding Dr. Disrespect’s teasing of a cinematic video before Marathon’s launch and Bungie’s subsequent clarification that he isn’t an official partner. Laurent expertly navigates industry debates sparked by these events, making it a must-read for anyone eager to stay updated on the latest gaming industry dynamics.
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Links to external sources for further reading
- Marathon's server slam opens to massive player counts, and the race has only just begunMarathon's server slam opens to massive player counts, and the race has only just begunsteamdb.info
- Marathon Server Slam stirs Steam with nearly 150,000 concurrent players day one, and that's not counting console participationMarathon Server Slam stirs Steam with nearly 150,000 concurrent players day one, and that's not counting console participationdexerto.com
- Marathon player count in 2026Marathon player count in 2026destructoid.com
- Marathon server slam hits 143,000 concurrent Steam players on day one, approaching Arc Raiders' peak of 189,000 and suggesting a big launch for BungieMarathon server slam hits 143,000 concurrent Steam players on day one, approaching Arc Raiders' peak of 189,000 and suggesting a big launch for Bungieeurogamer.net