Mark Brown, who posts game explainers to his Game Maker’s Toolkit channel, says his persona has been plagiarized.

The bright, glitched-out, typography-forward look of Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter Marathon is one of its defining features. As it turns out, it's also partially plagiarized, according to posts shared on the official Marathon X account. The announcement comes after artist Fern Hook, who goes by @4nt1r34l on X, initially accused Bungie of using in-game textures that looked similar to her original artwork on May 15. "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," Hook wrote on X, "but clearly my work was good enough to pillage for ideas and plaster all over their game without pay or attribution."  the Marathon alpha released recently and its environments are covered with assets lifted from poster designs i made in 2017.@Bungie @josephacross pic.twitter.com/0Csbo48Jgb— N² (@4nt1r34l) May 15, 2025 Hook's posts are fairly damning, identifying obvious areas in Marathon's alpha map that feature only lightly altered versions of her original work. She became aware of the issue when the alpha originally launched in April 2025, according to The Washington Post, but kept quiet until now because she was advised to seek legal action. Hook ultimately decided to post about the issue because she doesn't "have enough time or money to fly out to the US to pursue an unwinnable court case against Sony." Bungie's statement claims that "a former Bungie artist" included Hook's art in a texture sheet without the rest of the art team's knowledge. The company is "conducting a thorough review of [its] in-game assets" and has also reached out to Hook to "discuss the issue" further. As Eurogamer notes, this isn't the first time Bungie has been accused of lifting the work of other artists. The developer was accused of doing the same thing multiple times during the development of Destiny 2 and its various expansions. Since the game is still in development, it's not clear how or if Bungie will change Marathon to address Hook's complaint, but the developer has until September 23 to do it. That's when Marathon is supposed to launch on PlayStation 5, PC and Xbox Series X/S.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/bungie-admits-its-marathon-alpha-included-stolen-artwork-210006323.html?src=rss

One of the most striking things about Bungie’s Marathon is its presentation. The sci-fi extraction shooter combines bleak settings with bright colors in a way that makes it feel a bit like a sneaker promo meets Ghost in the Shell, or as designer Jeremy Skoog put it, “Y2K Cyberpunk mixed with Acid Graphic Design Posters.” But it now looks like at least a few of the visual design elements that appeared in the recent alpha test were lifted from an eight-year old work by an outside artist. Suggested ReadingThe Week In Games: A Star Wars Classic Returns & More New Releases Share SubtitlesOffEnglishview videoSuggested ReadingThe Week In Games: A Star Wars Classic Returns & More New Releases Share SubtitlesOffEnglish“The Marathon alpha released recently and its environments are covered with assets lifted from poster designs i made in 2017,” Bluesky user antire.al‬ posted on Thursday. She shared two images showing elements of her work and where they appeared in Marathon’s gameplay, including a rotated version of her own logo. A poster full of small repeating icon patterns also seems to be all but recreated in Marathon’s press kit ARG and website. “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,” antire.al wrote. “I don’t have the resources nor the energy to spare to pursue this legally but I have lost count of the number of times a major company has deemed it easier to pay a designer to imitate or steal my work than to write me an email.”Screenshot: Bungie / antire.al / BlueksyScreenshot: Bungie / Antire.al / BlueskyHow could something like this have happened? One possibility is that the art was used for placeholder assets that were supposed to be replaced or overhauled later on but never were. A less generous version is that someone at Bungie or the agencies it outsources to cut corners and knowingly lifted the work or used it as inspiration without compensation or attribution. Bungie didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.This isn’t the first time the PlayStation-owned studio has gotten into hot water for this sort of thing. In 2023, Destiny 2 fanart turned up in a major cutscene for the massive sci-fi MMO. In 2024, old fan art was plagiarized for an Ace of Space Exotic ornament and NERF gun replica. Bungie agreed to pay the artists and apologized in both instances. The studio has also been on the receiving end as well, with last year’s The First Descendant lifting ability and perk icons directly from Destiny 2 before later removing them.Marathon’s alpha wrapped up earlier this month, leaving fans impressed by the shooting and moment-to-moment feel but torn on its implementation of the extraction shooter formula. What’s not in doubt is that the worldbuilding and sci-fi interiors are some of the most intriguing work Bungie’s done in years, a virtue now partly tarnished by allegations of plagiarism in certain aspects of the aesthetic. “In 10 years I have never made a consistent income from this work and I am tired of designers from huge companies moodboarding and parasitising my designs while I struggle to make a living,” antire.al wrote. .

Strikerrr Member Oct 25, 2017 2,842 N² (@4nt1r34l) the Marathon alpha released recently and its environments are covered with assets lifted from poster designs i made in 2017. @Bungie @josephacross xcancel.com Here are bigger versions of the examples that she lists: This isn't the first time Bungie has been using art without crediting the artist. A similar situation happened in Destiny 2 a couple of years ago. In that situation, Bungie at least reached out to apologize to the artist and worked out a deal to compensate them Destiny 2 makers apologize for ‘mistaken’ use of fan art in cutscene Bungie says it will compensate the graphic designer www.polygon.com I hope ANTIREAL can get some similar recognition and compensation at the bare minimum. I'm curious how common this kind of art theft is within the games industry.  Zebesian-X Member Dec 3, 2018 25,231 Yeah that seems… pretty blatant. Bungie's gotta make this right   StarsAreStuff Member Feb 16, 2021 1,757 seeing as this art was all posted around 2017 really aligns with the Marathon production timeline start. gross stuff Bungie, disappointing as hell. BSKY link View: https://bsky.app/profile/antire.al/post/3lpa4gamtzs2l N² (@antire.al) the Marathon alpha released recently and its environments are covered with assets lifted from poster designs i made in 2017. @bungie.net @marathonthegame.bungie.net bsky.app   ResinPeasant93 Member Apr 24, 2024 2,420 It seems to be more common than one would think. Don't ask for permission, and don't ask for forgiveness either, unless by a court order.   AgentStrange Member Oct 25, 2017 5,001 Yeah, this is like the third instance of Bungie doing this this now I think. Pretty sus to say the least.   Ant_17 Member Oct 28, 2017 2,902 Greece As if we need more reasons to hate this game.   Sanders21 Member Sep 3, 2023 339 AgentStrange said: Yeah, this is like the third instance of this now I think. Pretty sus to say the least. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Fourth, based on this Verge article.   vixolus Prophet of Truth Member Sep 22, 2020 70,590 Yeah I just saw this come up on my bsky feed. It's literally ripped 1:1 in many areas as shown, not even just "inspired by"   Kinthey Avenger Oct 27, 2017 25,412 Straight up copying "Aleph Dark Space haulage logistics" is wild. Should be pretty open and shut. Like usually you could make some excuses about "Well, a double arrow symbol is going to look similar etc." but that's just a whole ass sentence copied, no ifs or buts.  NameUser Member Oct 25, 2017 17,190 They better make it right. Cut a check, put the artist in the credits.   Uhyve Member Oct 25, 2017 1,279 So the only part of Marathon that interests me was blatantly plagiarised. Modern Bungie makes me sad.  Smash-It Stan Member Oct 25, 2017 5,652 I saw the thread title and thought "AGAIN??" this has happened MULTIPLE times...   Audiblee Member Mar 14, 2025 1,386 Bungie's roll of negativity and self-owns continues. Compensate this artist.   The elusive man Member May 19, 2024 787 Damn they didn't even change it a little.   Crespo Member Oct 27, 2017 6,088 Sucks to see that.   LinguisticGoblin Member Jul 19, 2020 1,280 That is incredibly blatant looking   Suntzupp Member Mar 26, 2022 3,490 Bungie, the fuck is wrong with you?   Praedyth Member Feb 25, 2020 8,566 Brazil Yikes. This is blatant.   fiendcode Member Oct 26, 2017 26,291 Garbage company.   7thFloor Member Oct 27, 2017 7,268 U.S. Probably a single person responsible, that sucks   Remark Member Oct 27, 2017 4,135 The fact that Bungie has done this multiple times shows they seriously don't care lmao. Hope they get paid.  SolidSnakeUS Member Oct 25, 2017 12,072 Bungie... just come the fuck on. How about we don't fucking do this and be better... That is just blatant.   PimentaGui Member Jul 29, 2021 982 Fuck Bungie, wtf   Tagyhag Member Oct 27, 2017 15,119 Someone should get fired   TheRed Member Oct 31, 2017 3,176 The Aleph thing is just crazy to me lol just a straight copy   Temperance "This guy are sick" Member Oct 25, 2017 6,977 [NO 2FA] Remark said: The fact that Bungie has done this multiple times shows they seriously don't care lmao. Hope they get paid. Click to expand... Click to shrink... You say Bungie but who'd be responsibility for the actual actions of theft. Is it more Bungie artist department looking more and more sus? absolutely   banananahammock Member Aug 15, 2022 1,195 Uhyve said: So the only part of Marathon that interests me was blatantly plagiarised. Modern Bungie makes me sad. Click to expand... Click to shrink... this  Stencil Mailing His Own Damn Business Member Oct 30, 2017 13,474 USA Gross. Has anything come of the other three instances in which they've done this?  Nida Member Aug 31, 2019 15,091 Everett, Washington 7thFloor said: Probably a single person responsible, that sucks Click to expand... Click to shrink... Do they keep track of who does what exact art?  Dever Member Dec 25, 2019 5,830 Yikes lol. "Aleph Dark Space Haulage Logistics" totally sounds like it would be some minor part of the game's lore. But it's just copied and pasted from somewhere??   Falchion Member Oct 25, 2017 44,340 Oof, definitely looks like a copy + paste job.   7thFloor Member Oct 27, 2017 7,268 U.S. Nida said: Do they keep track of who does what exact art? Click to expand... Click to shrink... Internally? Yeah probably, and I imagine they're going to be in trouble for this   flyinj Member Oct 25, 2017 11,883 7thFloor said: Probably a single person responsible, that sucks Click to expand... Click to shrink... The question is- is it the same person who did it four times before  nihilence nøthing but silence Moderator Oct 25, 2017 18,908 From 'quake area to big OH. You could make a case for coincidence, except for the ALEPH thing. Yikes   DoradoWinston Member Apr 9, 2019 8,355 How am I not surprised the only part that seemed remotely interesting did not come from Bungie. That shit is blatant copy and paste holy   super moustique Member Oct 31, 2017 9,761 Hopefully, she'll get both the recognition and money she deserves for her (indirect) work on Marathon.   cowbanana Member Feb 2, 2018 16,331 a Socialist Utopia This is extremely blatant with the 1:1 ripping of exact design elements. There's literally zero excuses in this case. But I wouldn't call the overall design language very unique/original, it's very "Designer's Republic" going back to the 90s. They could just have made their own take on this style of design and they'd be fine, if unoriginal. But straight ripping elements makes Bungie look insanely bad in this case.  Nameless Hero Member Oct 25, 2017 23,330 Dever said: Yikes lol. "Aleph Dark Space Haulage Logistics" totally sounds like it would be some minor part of the game's lore. But it's just copied and pasted from somewhere?? Click to expand... Click to shrink... I'm 99% sure Aleph is part of the Marathon lore. The (fan) port of the original game is called Marathon Aleph One  Muffin Member Oct 26, 2017 10,751 nihilence said: You could make a case for coincidence, except for the ALEPH thing. Yikes Click to expand... Click to shrink... That logo row is already bad enough imo   maze001 Member Sep 18, 2024 584 Wow, I was not expecting it to be such a blatant case of theft. They literally copy pasted and rotated her art and called it a day. Crazy shit!  pittman Member Aug 15, 2019 252 Theres nothing wrong with being inspired by something. But whole sale lifting this stuff is nuts. This stuff was definitely on some mood board for the game and filter it's way through everything   Hong Member Oct 30, 2017 855 Literally stolen. Absolutely shameless. Imagine all the art that hasn't been recognised as stolen.   Kiyamet Member Apr 21, 2024 3,563 I dont know about Bungie's art director situation but often when I worked on assets I would be given mood boards for inspiration and be expected to basically, well, do just this Its most likely multiple layers of contract work that allowed this to happen I wouldnt put it squarely on Bungie for happening, though it is indeed on Bungie to fix it  cyress8 "This guy are sick" Avenger Oct 25, 2017 6,015 being broke, to being semi-broke. Straight copies. Guess they need to hire her and fire the person leading the art dept. Massive screw up.  PlanetSmasher The Abominable Showman Member Oct 25, 2017 132,602 Dever said: Yikes lol. "Aleph Dark Space Haulage Logistics" totally sounds like it would be some minor part of the game's lore. But it's just copied and pasted from somewhere?? Click to expand... Click to shrink... nihilence said: You could make a case for coincidence, except for the ALEPH thing. Yikes Click to expand... Click to shrink... Aleph One Aleph One is an enhanced open source version of Marathon 2: Durandal's game engine.[1] The game engine has been in development since the year 2000 when Bungie released Marathon 2's source code prior to its acquisition by Microsoft. The game engine has made many improvements to Marathon 2, such... bungie.fandom.com   Threadmarks Bungee Art Director follows Artist New Index Cian One Winged Slayer Member Feb 17, 2018 676 Joseph Cross, Marathon's Art Director, has followed her for years, but never reached out.   New Index Turnabout Sisters The Fallen Oct 25, 2017 2,704 Wow wasn't there just a story about someone suing Bungie for copying something in some Destiny 2 stuff?   Vic Tokai Member Aug 9, 2018 207 Wow. The art & graphic design style of the game was the only thing interesting to me about it (I'm simply too old for competitive multiplayer games, I would rather spend my time doing literally anything else that doesn't involve getting yelled at by 12 year olds online), so now I'm just gonna go to the source for that art. Just followed this artist on Bluesky and will definitely buy prints of their work, if they sell any. EDIT: Was just scrolling through images on their site, and damn. There's my next decade of phone wallpapers sorted...  Last edited: 59 minutes ago LiK Member Oct 25, 2017 34,452 Considering they had laid off so many artists, I can def see this happening. I had zero interest in Marathon and this just makes it easier to ignore.   Uhyve Member Oct 25, 2017 1,279 7thFloor said: Probably a single person responsible, that sucks Click to expand... Click to shrink... While it might have been one person responsible for the plagiarism, the art style for the entire game ended up riffing on this persons art seemingly without credit. It's just kinda bizarre that they presumably built their style guide ripping the artist off, and then also directly ripped the artist off.