Destiny 2 Ace of Spades Nerf Gun Accused of Copying Fan Design

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Destiny 2 Ace of Spades Nerf Gun Accused of Copying Fan Design

Key Takeaways

  • Destiny 2 accused of copying fan art for new Ace of Spades design.
  • Bungie investigating internally and has reached out to artist.
  • Controversy potentially tarnishes Destiny 2’s anniversary celebration.

As a long-time Destiny player with countless hours logged and an emotional attachment to this universe, I find myself disheartened by the latest turn of events. The allegations of Bungie copying fan art for the new Ace of Spades design feels like a slap in the face, especially during the game’s tenth anniversary celebration.

It is alleged that the creators of Destiny 2, Bungie, and toy maker Nerf are being accused of copying a fan’s design for a fresh visual style of the Ace of Spades exotic weapon. The brand new design for the weapon in Destiny 2 was initially showcased in-game as an ornament for the gun, and later materialized as a special foam dart blaster from Nerf in reality.

For a decade now, Destiny has been a significant presence, with this week marking the tenth anniversary of its initial release. However, both Destiny 2 and its gaming community are currently facing challenging times due to layoffs at Bungie, which has raised concerns about the studio’s ability to maintain a prosperous present and future for the game. This is despite the fact that Destiny 2: The Final Shape, the latest expansion, received high praise from critics, and Bungie has recently pledged to deliver significant content updates and additional features over the next year.

It appears that the studio’s anniversary celebration for Destiny might face additional criticisms due to allegations of potential plagiarism regarding some of their designs, specifically the new design for the Ace of Spades Exotic Hand Cannon. According to a Twitter post by artist Tofu_Rabbit (also known as Tofu Bunny), it seems that Bungie and Nerf may have taken substantial elements from a piece commissioned in 2015, which Tofu_Rabbit had created.

Destiny 2 Accused of Copying Fan Art for Ace of Spades Nerf Blaster Design

In Tofu_Rabbit’s post, they displayed a side-by-side comparison between their 2015 design for the Ace of Spades weapon, as seen in Destiny 2’s Cayde-6 character, and the 2024 Nerf Ace of Spades design. The focus was on minor details such as stroke patterns, the shape of the upside-down spade logo, and the positioning of various symbols and embellishments. Tofu_Rabbit suggested that certain aspects of their original design, like brush strokes and smudges, might have been copied exactly, implying it was more than just a coincidence.

Through a tweet on the official Destiny 2 Twitter handle, Bungie acknowledged that they’re looking into an issue regarding the Ace of Spades weapon internally and have reached out to Tofu_Rabbit. They plan to disclose further actions once more information is available. This predicament with the Ace of Spades isn’t the first time Destiny 2 or Bungie has faced allegations of imitation and plagiarism. In 2023, a scene in Destiny 2: Lightfall was found to have unattributed references to graphic designer Julian Faylona’s fan art. Subsequently, Bungie apologized for the oversight, acknowledged his work, and provided compensation for the utilization of his artwork.

The controversy over potential plagiarism in what should be a tribute to one of Destiny‘s most beloved and recognizable weapons certainly puts a damper on the game’s anniversary celebration. Additional complications could be added by the fact that the design is used by a physical product currently being sold, namely the Nerf blaster. With luck, Bungie will be able to find a resolution that satisfies all parties involved.

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2024-09-13 05:53