As Destiny 2 developer Bungie grapples with restoring its reputation after an independent artist accused the studio of using their artwork in Marathon without proper credit or compensation, the community surrounding the developer is left pondering the future.
The accusation last week triggered an "immediate investigation" from Bungie, leading to the acknowledgment that a "former Bungie artist" had indeed utilized Fern Hook's artwork without permission. The situation escalated further when, on a Friday night livestream, Marathon game director Joe Ziegler and art director Joe Cross issued an apology. The broadcast, devoid of any Marathon art or footage, was described as "painfully uncomfortable" as the team was "still scrubbing all of our assets to ensure we are being respectful of the situation."
Since the apology, the community has been attempting to identify the "former artist" in question, with some expressing feelings of disillusionment. There's a growing concern about whether Marathon can still succeed and what a potential failure might mean for Bungie, a studio with a rich history.
"The game's reception has plummeted from mixed/negative to outright plagiarism concerns, just four months before launch. Without a delay, it's doomed on arrival," one player suggested. "A failure could mean a loss exceeding $100 million, likely an underestimation for a AAA game and studio. This is a critical moment for Bungie."
Another player speculated on a lukewarm launch, predicting active updates until January, maintenance mode until summer 2026, and eventual shutdown, culminating in Bungie's absorption into Sony.
"We can't predict the outcome, and after the Concord fiasco, Sony is likely taking this very seriously," another community member pointed out. The Concord reference pertains to Firewalk Studios' online hero shooter, which was pulled from sale shortly after its launch last year due to dismal performance, including a peak of only 697 concurrent players on Steam.
Marathon - Gameplay Screenshots
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In another thread, a fan referenced Destiny lore YouTuber My Name is Byf's detailed video summary of the situation, expressing sympathy for the uninvolved employees who might be affected if Bungie were to fail. "It's unsettling to think about. I hope they make amends with the independent artist Antireal and take steps to prevent this in the future. I want them to regain the goodwill they need, whether through a delay or any other means, to make Marathon special. I want to see the Marathon ship in this art style."
However, not all potential players are deterred by the controversy. "I'm still excited for this game. The art drama is overblown," one said. "I'm looking forward to the aliens in the game and character customization, which I expect to be added later. I'm very hyped for Marathon."
Another community member brought up a perspective from a famous musician on the nature of art and inspiration, suggesting that the concept of completely original art is debatable. "It's not cool to copy/paste someone's work outright, but the idea of completely original art is up for debate, especially given instances where similar art has been independently created around the same time."
"To any Bungie employees reading this, remember, you have millions of fans rooting for Marathon's success," another added. Forbes reports a state of "chaos" within the studio, with morale in "free fall." Marathon is slated for release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S on September 23.
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