Bungie Caught Stealing Art?

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Summary

  • Bungie admitted to using artwork without permission in Marathon’s alpha playtest, causing a delay in upcoming content.
  • Bungie committed to removing disputed art and improving the review process to prevent future issues.
  • Independent artist Antireal felt validated by evidence of plagiarism but chose not to pursue legal action against Bungie.

In recent discussions, Bungie has been facing criticism due to plagiarism allegations concerning their upcoming game, Marathon. Despite these claims, the studio went ahead with its planned PlayMA stream, openly addressing the issue head-on. Previously, Bungie had also confronted similar accusations following a lawsuit in 2024 regarding Destiny 2.

As a dedicated fan, I found myself in a bit of a pickle when independent artist Antireal called out Bungie over their use of her artwork in ‘Marathon’ without permission. She posted side-by-side comparisons on social media, revealing striking similarities between her 2017 portfolio pieces and the in-game graffiti assets used during the alpha playtest. The ‘Marathon’ development team subsequently acknowledged the issue, confessing that a former Bungie artist had added her art to a texture sheet that somehow made its way into the game.

In a recent broadcast, Joe Cross, the Art Director for the forthcoming first-person shooter titled Marathon, addressed an issue regarding unauthorized use of graphic elements. It was discovered that during early development stages, a previous artist incorporated assets (icons and text) from an independent designer without obtaining necessary permissions. These elements were included in a decal sheet in 2020 and eventually found their way into the alpha version of the game. Cross acknowledged that this oversight should not have happened and emphasized Bungie’s dedication to enhancing its review process to prevent such incidents in the future. The team has contacted Antireal to rectify the situation, and they are now auditing all work from the former artist, which has temporarily delayed the release of certain game content.

Bungie Promises To Remove Disputed Art, Honors Creators

Cross additionally highlighted that any content not credited appropriately will either be deleted or substituted with fresh in-house productions. He clarified that although the visual aesthetic of Marathon draws inspiration from multiple sources such as Swiss typography, cyberpunk styles, and the initial Marathon trilogy, the external studios contributing to the branding aspect were not implicated. In conclusion, he extended a sincere apology to Antireal on behalf of Bungie, expressing their admiration for independent artists and their commitment to addressing this matter honestly and compassionately.

Although the situation remains unclear, Fern (also known as Antireal) recently discussed it in an interview with The Washington Post. She expressed that discovering clear instances of plagiarism gave her a strange sense of validation, reinforcing her concerns about the game’s artistic direction that had been bothering her for some time. Initially advised to consider legal action, she ultimately decided against it, stating that taking on a company like Sony would have been extremely challenging due to the time, financial costs, and immense pressure involved. Given Bungie’s past experiences, it is crucial for them to exercise greater caution in future projects.

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2025-05-17 06:23