Bungie Reviews Policies After Artist Credit Issue

Bungie, the studio behind Destiny 2, finds itself embroiled in fresh plagiarism allegations as another artist claims their work was used without permission - this time for the upcoming sci-fi shooter Marathon.

Recurring Controversy

Following previous accusations from multiple artists and a writer regarding unauthorized use of their creative works, a new claim has surfaced alleging Bungie incorporated environment assets from independent artist Antireal into Marathon's alpha build. Side-by-side comparisons show striking similarities with designs the artist originally shared on social media in 2017.

The Marathon alpha released recently and its environments are covered with assets lifted from poster designs I made in 2017

— N² (@4nt1r34l) May 15, 2025

Artist's Statement

"While Bungie wasn't obligated to commission me for work clearly inspired by my decade-long design aesthetic, they apparently found it acceptable to appropriate my creations without compensation or credit," the artist stated on X/Twitter.

"After ten years of struggling to earn sustainable income from my art, I've grown weary of major companies treating my portfolio as free moodboard material while their well-paid designers replicate my work."

Bungie's Response

The developer responded promptly, attributing the unauthorized assets to a former employee's texture sheet that slipped through quality control. While stopping short of a public apology, Bungie initiated contact with the affected artist.

In an official statement, Bungie explained: "Our investigation confirmed a former artist included unauthorized decals in texture sheets subsequently used in-game. Current team members were unaware of this breach. We're reviewing our oversight procedures while engaging with the affected creator to remedy this situation."

Pattern of Controversies

This incident follows recent legal action against Bungie alleging plagiarism in Destiny 2's Red War campaign. The case continues after a judge rejected Bungie's dismissal motion, complicated by the content's removal from active gameplay.

Additionally, the studio previously investigated how a NERF gun replica of Destiny 2's Ace of Spades closely mirrored 2015 fan art down to minute textural details. These recurring incidents raise questions about Bungie's content vetting processes.