Bungie Admits to Using Stolen Artwork
Bungie, one of the big names in the gaming world, is in the news with some unpleasant developments regarding its new game, Marathon. The company has been forced to admit to using an artist’s work without permission. Moreover, this isn’t the first “inspiration” incident Bungie has been involved in. Let’s take a closer look behind the scenes of the event and Bungie’s less-than-convincing explanations.
What Happened? Artist Rebelled, Bungie Blamed a Former Employee
It all started on May 15, 2025, with posts made by digital artist Fern Hook (known on social media as @4nt1r34l). Hook revealed with evidence that some designs she created in 2017 were used in Marathon’s closed alpha version without permission, credit, or payment. The artist rightfully expressed her reaction, stating, “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.”
Following the spread of these allegations, Bungie made a statement on May 16 via the MarathonDevTeam Twitter account. In the statement, it was admitted that the artist’s decals were indeed used in the game without permission. However, Bungie passed the buck to a former employee, saying, “This issue was unknown by our existing art team, and we are still reviewing how this oversight occurred.” The company added that they had contacted the artist, would rectify the situation, and would implement stricter checks to prevent similar incidents in the future.
How Convincing is Bungie’s Explanation? Past Incidents Cast a Shadow
Bungie’s explanation along the lines of “a former employee did it, we weren’t aware” wasn’t found very convincing by the gaming community. This is because it’s not the company’s first “it happened by mistake” incident. Similar events occurred with Destiny 2 previously, where allegations arose about the unauthorized use of various artists’ work, and Bungie similarly apologized and sought to rectify the situation. These repeated “mistakes” raise serious questions about how much respect the company has for artists’ work and how effective its internal audit mechanisms are.
Marathon and the Limits of “Inspiration”: Designs are Almost Identical
@4nt1r34l claims that it’s not just a few decals, but Marathon’s overall visual language and aesthetic have gone far beyond “inspiration” from her decade of work, essentially being copied. It’s impossible not to notice this when you look at the designs. Marathon had caught my attention with its interesting visual style, but apparently, it wasn’t their own. After @4nt1r34l’s post, people on social media began to investigate the incident more deeply. It’s clear that some designs in the game are almost identical to @4nt1r34l’s original works or used with very minor alterations. Bungie’s admission, limited to just “a few decals,” is not enough to quell the outcry from the artist and the public.