Bungie Apologies for Stolen Artwork in 'Marathon'
- Bungie removed all Marathon gameplay from its May 16, 2025 livestream after acknowledging unauthorized use of artwork from Scottish artist Fern '4nt1r34l' Hook in the game's alpha build.
- The issue arose because a former Bungie artist incorporated Hook's graphic elements without permission or credit into a decal sheet checked in during 2020, which later appeared in Marathon's alpha.
- Art director Joseph Cross explained Bungie is conducting a comprehensive audit to remove or recreate any questionably sourced assets and issued a public apology while reaching out to Hook personally.
- Cross noted, 'There’s absolutely no excuse for this oversight,' emphasizing Bungie's commitment to improved review processes to prevent future incidents amid contributions from hundreds of internal and external artists influenced by modernism and cyberpunk.
- Despite the controversy, Bungie confirmed Marathon remains scheduled for release on September 23, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC as a premium product with its visual assets under careful revision.
29 Articles
29 Articles
Fans Discuss Marathon Developer Bungie's Future After Yet Another Plagiarism Row Rocks Studio: 'Make No Mistake, This Is An Existential Struggle For Bungie At This Point'
As Destiny 2 developer Bungie scrambles to recover its reputation after yet another independent artist accused the studio of "lifting" their artwork in Marathon, the community around the developer is wondering what's next.Last week's accusation prompted an "immediate investigation" and acknowledgement from the studio that a "former Bungie artist" had indeed used Fern Hook's work without compensation or credit.Then, on Friday night, Marathon game…
An Artist Spots Her Work In Bungie's Marathon, Nintendo Isn't Sending Out Switch 2 Review Units Until The Last Minute, And More Of The Week's Top Stories
This week, it was reported that in a strange turn of events, Nintendo may not be sending out Switch 2 units to would-be reviewers before launch, which could result in a dearth of coverage at a time when you’d expect to see impressions and reviews of the console plastered across every gaming site and YouTube channel.…Read more...
Upcoming Online Shooter Caught Stealing Graphic Elements, Creators' Mood Is at Rock Bottom
Bungie's upcoming online shooter Marathon is facing a major problem. It has been discovered that some of the game's graphic elements have been stolen. The game is set to be released in just a few months, but the mood among the developers is miserable after this discovery and an internal investigation is underway.
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