Bungie Initiates Comprehensive Review of Marathon Following Artist Feedback
Marathon, the latest multiplayer extraction shooter from Bungie, is facing serious allegations of plagiarism after an independent Scottish artist claimed that the game used her artwork without permission. The artist, Fern Hook, known as @4nt1r34l (AntiReal) on social media, pointed out striking similarities between her designs and elements in the game’s alpha build. Bungie has acknowledged the issue, attributing it to a former employee and promising a thorough review of its assets while reaching out to the artist for resolution.
Allegations of Plagiarism Surface
Fern Hook, an independent artist, accused Bungie of incorporating elements from her poster designs into Marathon, which recently completed its closed alpha testing phase. Hook shared side-by-side comparisons on social media, highlighting the uncanny resemblances between her artwork and the gameโs visuals. She stated, โThe Marathon alpha released recently and its environments are covered with assets lifted from poster designs I made in 2017.โ
In her accusations, Hook emphasized that the game not only borrowed specific assets but also heavily relied on her unique โdesign language.โ Marathon is recognized for its captivating futuristic sci-fi aesthetic, which Hook argues closely mirrors her own artistic style. She expressed her frustration, noting that while Bungie is not obligated to hire her, it is disheartening to see her work used without compensation or credit. โClearly my work was good enough to pillage for ideas and plaster all over their game without pay or attribution,โ she remarked in a post.
Bungie’s Response to the Controversy
In response to the allegations, Bungie issued a statement acknowledging the situation. The studio clarified that the art team was unaware of the unauthorized use of Hook’s designs, attributing the oversight to a former employee who included the assets in a texture sheet used in the game. Bungie stated, โWe immediately investigated a concern regarding unauthorized use of artist decals in Marathon and confirmed that a former Bungie artist included these in a texture sheet that was ultimately used in-game.โ
The studio expressed its commitment to addressing the issue, stating that it takes such matters seriously. Bungie has reached out to Hook to discuss the situation and is dedicated to rectifying the oversight. They also announced plans to conduct a thorough review of all in-game assets, particularly those created by the former employee, and to implement stricter documentation processes for artist contributions. โWe value the creativity and dedication of all artists who contribute to our games, and we are committed to doing right by them,โ the studio added.
Impact on Bungie’s Morale and Future
The plagiarism controversy has reportedly taken a toll on morale within Bungie, with sources indicating that the atmosphere at the studio is in โfree fall.โ Following the allegations, Bungie canceled all planned gameplay content for its recent Marathon livestream. During the stream, art director Joe Cross acknowledged that a Bungie artist had borrowed graphic elements from Hook’s work without permission or proper credit. He assured viewers that the studio is auditing all previous work on the game and will remove any assets that were inappropriately sourced.
According to a Forbes report, the studio is currently in a state of โchaos,โ with concerns about the potential impact of a lackluster launch for Marathon. Employees, both current and former, have expressed worries about the studio’s future should the game fail to meet expectations. The game is scheduled for release on September 23 across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X, and early impressions from the alpha have been mixed, adding to the uncertainty surrounding its launch.
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