In yet another incident involving unauthorized use of artistic work, game developer Bungie finds itself addressing allegations that designs from an independent artist were incorporated into its upcoming sci-fi shooter Marathon without permission or attribution. This marks the latest in a series of similar controversies for the studio, raising questions about its internal art approval processes.
The Accusation
Visual artist Antireal took to social media platform X yesterday to claim that environment art in Marathon's recent alpha test contained design elements lifted directly from poster designs she created in 2017. The artist provided comparative screenshots showing striking similarities between her original work and in-game assets, including logos, text elements, and graphic designs that appear virtually unchanged in Marathon's environments. Among the allegedly copied elements was the word Aleph in all caps paired with Dark-space haulage logistics text, as well as a series of logos in boxes that appear on in-game tarps and sheeting.
Bungie's Response
Within hours of the accusation going public, Bungie issued a statement via the official Marathon development team account. The company acknowledged the issue and attributed it to a former Bungie artist who had included these designs in texture sheets that were ultimately implemented in-game. Bungie claimed this occurred without the knowledge of their current art team and emphasized that as a matter of policy, they do not use artists' work without permission.
Remedial Actions
Bungie stated they have reached out to Antireal to discuss the issue and are committed to do right by the artist. The company has announced a thorough review of in-game assets, particularly focusing on those created by the former artist in question. Additionally, Bungie says it will implement stricter checks to document all artist contributions moving forward, in an apparent effort to prevent similar situations.
A Pattern of Problems
This incident is far from isolated. Bungie has faced similar accusations multiple times in recent years. In 2023, the company admitted to using fan art in the design of a Destiny 2 Nerf gun without proper attribution. That same year, another artist's work appeared in a Destiny 2 in-game cutscene with near-identical similarities. In 2021, Bungie confirmed that fanart of the character Xivu Arath was accidentally used in promotional materials for the Witch Queen expansion.
Timeline of Bungie's art controversy incidents:
- 2021: Fanart of Xivu Arath "accidentally used" in Witch Queen expansion trailer
- 2023: Artist's work appeared in Destiny 2 in-game cutscene without attribution
- 2023: Fan art used for Destiny 2 Nerf gun design without permission
- 2025 (May): Artist Antireal accuses Marathon team of using her 2017 poster designs
The Artist's Perspective
Antireal expressed frustration not just with this specific incident but with what she describes as a pattern of larger companies exploiting independent artists' work. In 10 years, I have never made a consistent income from this work and I am tired of designers from huge companies moodboarding and parasitising my designs while I struggle to make a living, she stated. The artist noted that while she lacks the resources to pursue legal action, she felt compelled to bring attention to the issue.
Industry Implications
The recurring nature of these incidents at Bungie raises concerns about potential systemic issues within the company's art department and approval processes. While the studio has consistently taken responsibility and promised compensation after such allegations surface, the frequency of these occurrences suggests deeper problems with how artistic assets are sourced, vetted, and documented during game development.
As Marathon continues development, this controversy adds another challenge for Bungie, which is also currently facing a separate lawsuit from a writer claiming the studio stole plot elements for Destiny 2's 2017 storyline. How the company addresses these recurring issues may significantly impact its reputation among both the artistic community and its player base.