Bungie Acknowledges Stealing Visual Style from Independent Artist in Marathon Game
Controversy Erupts as Bungie Admits to Using Artist’s Work Without Permission
In a recent scandal, Bungie, the renowned game developer behind the popular Marathon series, has come under fire for allegedly plagiarizing the visual style of an independent artist. The artist, known by her pseudonym Antireal, claims that several elements in the alpha version of Marathon are direct copies of her artwork, created without her consent.
Details of the Alleged Plagiarism
According to Antireal, the visual motifs and symbols that appear in the game closely resemble her art projects from 2017. She states that these elements were incorporated into the game almost unchanged, raising serious questions about originality and copyright infringement. Despite the troubling nature of these accusations, she admits that she lacks the resources and legal support necessary to pursue formal action against Bungie.
The Artist’s Connection to Bungie
What makes this case even more intriguing is that the art director of Marathon, Joseph Cross, is a follower of Antireal on social media. She reveals that several Bungie employees, including Cross, have been aware of her work for some time, yet no direct contact or acknowledgment was made. This has led to accusations of silent appropriation rather than transparent collaboration.
Bungie’s Official Response and Admission
Within hours of the allegations surfacing, Bungie issued a public statement admitting that some assets in the game were developed by a former employee and had entered the project without proper vetting. The studio emphasized that the current art team was unaware of the origins of these elements and assured fans that they are taking steps to prevent such incidents in the future.
Commitment to Addressing the Issue
- Review and audit all game assets for originality and proper licensing
- Enhance internal processes to verify artist contributions
- Engage directly with Antireal to resolve the dispute
Following the acknowledgment, Bungie reached out to Antireal, and the company’s leadership publicly apologized. The studio’s representatives expressed regret over the incident and committed to making amends.
Apology and Future Steps
In a heartfelt public apology, a Bungie spokesperson stated:
“I want to personally apologize to Antireal for the use of her artwork in this situation. It’s clear how unfair this is, and we’re doing everything possible to rectify the mistake and show respect for her creative work. Her art is outstanding, and it’s evident that we share a similar aesthetic vision.”
Ongoing Compensation Discussions and Game Delays
The studio is currently negotiating a compensation package with Antireal, believed to be in the thousands of dollars. Additionally, Bungie has announced that some upcoming Marathon previews will be postponed as they review their assets thoroughly.
Previous Similar Incidents
This isn’t Bungie’s first controversy involving allegations of intellectual property theft. Earlier, the studio was accused by science fiction author Matthew Kelsey Martino of copying plot ideas from his blog story, which he published under the pseudonym Caspar Cole, in Destiny 2’s campaign storyline.
Alex "Pixel" Petrov
Gaming journalist & industry insider. Covers the latest game releases, updates, and behind-the-scenes dev stories. Knows every Easter egg, patch note, and upcoming title worth hyping. Always gaming, always analyzing.