With Marathon set to launch this September and weekly livestreams underway to build excitement, developer Bungie hit a snag that’s drawing attention for all the wrong reasons. The studio was recently called out for using uncredited artwork that strongly resembled designs by Scottish artist Fern Hook, also known online as 4nt1r34l.
🖼️ Bungie Confirms the Plagiarism Claim
After an internal investigation, Bungie admitted that Hook’s work was indeed used without permission or credit by a former employee. The artist noticed the similarities between Marathon’s in-game assets and her older poster art, which had been shared publicly years ago.
Art Director Joseph Cross issued a public statement acknowledging the mistake:
“I want to send my personal apology to 4nt1r34l, whose work was used in this case. I know how unfair this feels, and we’re doing everything we can to make this right.”
✅ Bungie Promises to Make Amends
Cross added that Bungie has already reached out to Fern Hook to apologize directly. The team also plans to correct the asset usage before release and explore ways to properly compensate or credit the original artist.
He went on to compliment Hook’s unique design style, emphasizing a shared appreciation for the genre of graphic design that Marathon leans into:
“Her work is fantastic, and we clearly share a mutual appreciation for a specific genre of graphic design.”
📢 Community Reaction & Industry Implications
The response from fans has been mixed; some are glad Bungie owned up to the mistake quickly, while others see it as a warning sign of inadequate oversight in asset sourcing during game development.
This incident serves as another reminder of the importance of ethics in art usage within the gaming industry especially with indie creators increasingly having their designs co-opted by large studios.
🗓️ Marathon Still Set for September Release
Despite the controversy, Bungie has confirmed that Marathon will still launch as planned this September. With live updates and developer streams leading up to release, the studio hopes to rebuild trust and keep the focus on gameplay, with full credit where credit is due.
