A controversy has unfolded around Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter, “Marathon,” after allegations surfaced of art plagiarism involving Scottish artist Fern Hook, known professionally as ANTIREAL.

ANTIREAL claimed that her original artwork was used in Marathon’s alpha build without permission or attribution, sparking a heated debate within the gaming community.

Side-by-side comparisons revealed striking similarities between ANTIREAL’s 2017 portfolio pieces and in-game assets, including direct copies of her personal logo and design elements.

As a result, Bungie has officially halted the planned gameplay showcase, choosing to address the issue and audit potentially problematic art assets.

The Plagiarism Allegations Surface

Scottish artist Fern ‘4nt1r34l’ Hook has leveled serious allegations against Bungie, the developer behind the highly anticipated game, Marathon. The accusations surfaced earlier this week and have since caused a stir within the gaming community.

Scottish Artist ANTIREAL’s Claims

ANTIREAL, whose real name is Fern Hook, brought forth the allegations, stating that Bungie had appropriated her distinctive artwork created in 2017 for use in Marathon. She presented evidence on social media showing striking similarities between her original work and the in-game assets of Marathon.

Evidence of Copied Artwork

The evidence presented by ANTIREAL included side-by-side comparisons of her original artwork and the allegedly copied assets from Marathon. These comparisons revealed what appeared to be direct 1:1 copies, going beyond mere inspiration or similar style.

Side-by-Side Comparisons

ANTIREAL posted several comparisons that showed not just aesthetic similarities but specific symbols and text fragments being used in Marathon. This suggested a deliberate appropriation rather than coincidental similarity.

Timeline of Original Art Creation

ANTIREAL’s work was published in 2017, while Marathon reportedly began development around 2018. This timeline raises concerns that Bungie’s team may have been influenced by her work from the project’s inception. As ANTIREAL noted, “Bungie is of course not obligated to hire me when making a game that draws overwhelmingly from the same design language I have refined for the last decade, but clearly my work was good enough to pillage for ideas and plaster all over their game without pay or attribution.”

“Bungie is of course not obligated to hire me when making a game that draws overwhelmingly from the same design language I have refined for the last decade, but clearly my work was good enough to pillage for ideas and plaster all over their game without pay or attribution.” – ANTIREAL

The allegations also highlighted that several Bungie employees, including Marathon’s current art director, had been following ANTIREAL’s social media accounts for years without reaching out for collaboration or permission.

Bungie Pulls Marathon Gameplay After Art Plagiarism Storm

Following serious accusations of art plagiarism, Bungie has decided to pull the planned Marathon gameplay demonstrations. The developer officially acknowledged the validity of ANTIREAL’s plagiarism claims in a public statement, attributing the issue to a “former Bungie artist” who allegedly incorporated the artist’s work into a texture sheet without the knowledge of the “existing art team.”

Official Acknowledgment from Bungie

Bungie’s statement highlighted their commitment to addressing the issue. They pledged to remove the disputed art assets from the game and improve their review process to prevent similar incidents in the future. As Bungie noted, “We are taking this matter seriously and are working to ensure that our game meets the high standards we set for ourselves.”

Postponement of PlayMA Stream

The scheduled PlayMA stream, intended to showcase gameplay and gather alpha feedback with game director Joe Ziegler, was postponed due to the controversy. This decision was made to prevent the plagiarism issue from overshadowing constructive discussions about the game.

Impact on Alpha Testing

The disruption has significantly impacted Marathon’s alpha testing phase. The team must now audit and replace problematic assets while managing the public relations fallout. This incident has raised questions about Bungie’s internal review processes and how artwork from an independent artist could be included without proper attribution or licensing.

Inside the Controversy: What Actually Happened

Bungie’s ‘Marathon’ game has been at the center of a plagiarism controversy that has raised questions about artistic integrity. The issue came to light when Scottish Artist ANTIREAL claimed that some of the game’s artwork was copied from their designs.

Former Bungie Artist’s Involvement

A former Bungie artist was found to have used graphic elements from ANTIREAL’s work without permission during the early pre-production phase of ‘Marathon.’ These elements were incorporated into a decal sheet in 2020 and eventually made their way into the alpha build.

Art Director Joe Cross’s Explanation

Art Director Joe Cross addressed the issue during a recent stream, stating that there’s “no excuse for the oversight” and that Bungie is committed to improving its review process.

The Decal Sheet Issue

The unauthorized assets, including icons and text fragments, were added to a decal sheet, which later appeared in the alpha build.

When the Plagiarism Occurred

The plagiarism occurred in 2020 during the early stages of ‘Marathon’s development.

Bungie’s History with Similar Incidents

Bungie has faced similar accusations at least four times in the past four years, including cases involving Destiny fan art used without proper attribution. The company is currently auditing all work produced by the former artist to prevent future incidents.

Moving Forward: Bungie’s Response and Consequences

Bungie’s handling of the “Marathon” plagiarism issue has raised questions about artistic integrity in game development. The company has taken steps to address the controversy, including committing to remove or replace any improperly sourced material with new artwork created in-house.

Art Director Joe Cross’s apology to ANTIREAL during a recent stream underscored Bungie’s commitment to transparency and respect for independent artists. ANTIREAL, whose real name is Fern Hook, expressed a mix of validation and frustration upon discovering her work was used without permission, highlighting the challenges independent artists face when dealing with large studios.

The incident has sparked a broader discussion within the gaming community about the importance of proper review processes for creative assets and the responsibility of major studios to ensure all artwork is properly licensed or created in-house. As Bungie navigates this controversy, the outcome may have lasting consequences for the “Marathon” franchise and Bungie’s reputation in the competitive extraction shooter market.