If you thought your weekend gaming calendar was clear, think again. Sony is pushing not one but two big live-service betas simultaneously, and it’s causing quite the stir. From February 27 to March 1, Guerilla Games’ new co-op shooter Horizon Hunters Gathering runs its first closed playtest, right in the middle of Bungie’s Marathon open beta server slam, which kicks off February 26 and lasts through March 2.
Horizon Hunters Gathering is a colorful tactical co-op title set in the Horizon universe, letting players dive into two modes—Machine Incursion, a wave-based survival gauntlet, and Cauldron Descent, a multi-stage dungeon with ever-shifting challenges. The test, limited to selected players who registered through the PlayStation Beta Program, grants access to three characters: Sun, Ram, and Axle. It’s available on both PS5 and Steam, though only at specific times for those lucky to get in, as outlined on the official Horizon Hunters Gathering news page.
At the same time, Bungie’s Marathon, a live-service sci-fi extraction shooter, is taking a different approach with an open beta server stress test dubbed the "server slam." Everyone on Xbox, PS5, and PC can jump in and test the online infrastructure ahead of its March 5 launch. You don’t even need to pre-register—just hit up the client on Steam. The overlap—spotted and shared by deals guru Wario64 on Bluesky—is a bit awkward, especially since both games are Sony-owned.
This scheduling puts Sony in an odd spot. While the player bases for a tactical co-op like Horizon Hunters Gathering and a shooter extraction game like Marathon might not overlap heavily, gaming communities and media attention inevitably divide. Past Horizon launches have grappled with unfortunate timing—remember how Horizon Zero Dawn dropped just as Breath of the Wild exploded, or how Forbidden West faced off with Elden Ring? Now the franchise’s multiplayer offshoot faces Marathon’s looming hype.
Sony’s ambitions for live-service multiplayer are clear, but this beta double-booking raises questions about strategic prioritization. Bungie’s Marathon arguably carries higher stakes—the studio’s first major release under Sony’s umbrella, and a title many are watching closely. Yet, Horizon’s closed beta is vying for the spotlight simultaneously, with limited spots and strict NDA conditions likely keeping impressions under wraps for now.
If you want to try out Horizon Hunters Gathering, you’ll need to be part of the PlayStation beta program and hope for an invite, but if you’re up for Marathon, the server slam is wide open. This weekend you’re spoiled for choice—or maybe just spoiled for attention. Either way, it’s a wild moment for Sony’s multiplayer strategies, and we’ll be watching how players respond while juggling these two very different live-service betas.
For those curious, you can dive into the Horizon playtest details at the official PlayStation beta page, and check out Bungie’s Marathon server slam info directly on their official site. Sony’s multiplayer weekend is shaping up to be one for the books, even if it’s a bit messy.
Hunters and runners alike, good luck this weekend—you’re going to need it.
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