News Marathon Uses Decals and Visual Style Stolen From Independent Artist, Confirms Bungie Bungie said that it will be implementing stricter checks to ensure that all artwork used in its assets are attributed correctly. Posted By Joelle Daniels | On 16th, May. 2025 As Bungie gets ready for the September 23 release of its PvPvE extraction shooter Marathon, the studio has found itself embroiled in a new controversy. A visual artist, going by Antireal, has taken to social media platform X accusing Bungie of stealing the artistic style and design elements from projects she had worked on back in 2017. In her post, Antireal said, “the Marathon alpha released recently and its environments are covered with assets lifted from poster designs I made in 2017.” She went on to say that, while Bungie wasn’t obligated to offer her a job for her design work, the company outright stealing her ideas without appropriate attribution or compensation wasn’t a good thing. “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,” wrote Antireal. “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.” “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.” Antireal’s posts are accompanied by a host of images showcasing some of her work, which does bear a striking resemblance to the overall design language we’ve seen from the various trailers and artwork released for Marathon over the last couple of years. Some elements from Antireal’s art seem to be outright lifted and pasted into Marathon, including words like “Aleph” which feature prominently in the artist’s work. In response, Bungie took to X to confirm that Antireal’s work was indeed seemingly used during the development of Marathon. However, the studio notes that this issue was unknown for its art team, and that it is taking investigating how this kind of slip up could happen. Bungie has referred to the use of Antireal’s work in Marathon’s textures an “unauthorised use of artist decals.” “This issue was unknown by our existing art team, and we are still reviewing how this oversight occurred,” wrote the studio. “We take matters like this very seriously. We have reached out to [Antireal] to discuss this issue and are committed to do right by the artist.” “As a matter of policy, we do not use the work of artists without their permission.” Bungie has also said that, moving forward, it will be conducting a thorough review of its in-game assets to ensure that there are stricter checks to document artist contributions. “We value the creativity and dedication of all artists who contribute to our games, and we are committed to doing right by them,” it wrote. “Thank you for bringing this to our attention.” Marathon is coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and is currently undergoing playtests. Tagged With: Elden Ring: Nightreign Publisher:Bandai Namco Developer:FromSoftware Platforms:PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, PCView More DOOM: The Dark Ages Publisher:Bethesda Softworks Developer:id Software Platforms:Xbox Series X, PS5, PCView More Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Publisher:Sony Developer:Kojima Productions Platforms:PS5View More Amazing Articles You Might Want To Check Out! Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Trailer Showcases Opening Cutscene Remade in 3D Watch the first meeting between Joshua and Estelle with full animations and facial expressions before the rema... Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon – Everything You Need to Know The new indie 'scrolls-like' is now feature complete and looks stunning. Grand Theft Auto 6 Development Began “In Earnest” in 2020 – Take-Two Interactive The statement indicates that work had already begun on GTA 6 prior to 2020, which would back a former dev sayi... Mario Kart World – Everything You Need to Know [drop-cap]A[/drop-cap]fter what felt like an eternity of waiting, the next Mario Kart is finally almost upon... Read More Marathon Uses Decals and Visual Style Stolen From Independent Artist, Confirms Bungie Bungie said that it will be implementing stricter checks to ensure that all artwork used in its assets are att... Avowed to Receive New Game Plus, Photo Mode, and New Weapons This Year The next update due this Summer includes additional NPC abilities and behaviors, new Unique weapons and armor,... View More

Bungie confirms Marathon uses "unauthorised" artwork, is undertaking review of in-game assets The developer vowed to "do right" by the artist in question Image credit: Bungie News by Samuel Roberts Editorial Director Published on May 16, 2025 Bungie confirmed its recent alpha for Marathon used 'unauthorised' decals and designs, after the developer was accused of lifting assets from posters designed in 2017. Artist Antireal pointed out the use of her artwork in-game on social media, while tagging in the developer and franchise art director Joseph Cross. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. "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 said. "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," added Antireal. Bungie responded via its MarathonDevTeam account on Twitter, taking responsibility for the incident. "We immediately investigated a concern regarding unauthorised use of artist decals in Marathon and confirmed that a former Bungie artist included these in a texture sheet that was ultimately used in-game." The studio said this issue was unknown by its existing art team, and that it's reached out to "do right" by the artist. "As a matter of policy, we do not use the work of artists without their permission," the account said. "To prevent similar issues in the future, we are conducting a thorough review of our in-game assets, specifically those done by the former Bungie artist, and implementing stricter checks to document all artist contributions." Bungie has been accused of lifting artwork four times now. Last year, an artist accused the studio of borrowing its designs for a Destiny 2 Nerf gun, which was amicably resolved. In 2023, an artist pointed out the similarities between their artwork and a piece that appeared in a Destiny 2 cutscene. Bungie resolved this by compensating and crediting the artist. In 2021, fan art was used in a trailer, which Bungie again resolved after reaching out to the artist in question.

Obsidian has announced the 2025 roadmap for Avowed, which consists of three big updates for the rest of the year, the first of which is out now with update 1.4. By the end of the year, Avowed will include a new game-plus mode, a photo mode, NPCs will have new abilities and behaviors, players will get new character presets, Godlike features, weapons, and the ability to change your appearance in the world. But that's all to come in the Summer and Fall 2025 updates. As for today's Spring 2025 update with patch 1.4, Obsidian has added an arachnophobia mode, mouse and keyboard support for Xbox console players, fog of war improvements, more gold and crafting materials, and a slew of bug fixes and other tweaks that Obsidian gets into in the full patch notes. In a blog post about the roadmap and today's update on its website, Obsidian also called out that it is working to add localized language versions of Avowed for Korean, Japanese, and French-speaking players. The studio doesn't say when those versions will be available, but is "committed to delivering these updates as soon as they are ready, and we deeply appreciate your patience and support as we make sure they meet the quality you deserve." Wccftech's Alessio Palumbo enjoyed Avowed when it arrived earlier this year, saying in his review that Avowed "marks a significant step up for Obsidian compared to The Outer Worlds." And soon we'll know just how significant it is with direct comparison to Obsidian's next game, The Outer Worlds 2, which is due to release on June 8, 2025. Products mentioned Avowed USD 69.99 Buy from Amazon Deal of the Day

Image by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/FuturismDevelopmentsFresh off his family's dip in Washington, DC's sewage-contaminated Rock Creek, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is reminding us that he is no expert when it comes to healthcare — the thing he was nominated to run.When speaking to the House of Representatives — his first appearance before Congress since his confirmation hearings in January — the allegedly brainwormed Health and Human Services secretary said the quiet part out loud when attempting to weasel out of questions about vaccines."I don't want to seem like I'm being evasive," Kennedy told the House Appropriations Committee, "but I don't think people should be taking advice, medical advice from me."That rejoinder came in response to questions from Mark Pocan, a Wisconsin Democrat, who asked if the political scion would, vaccinate his family, as he did in the past.Kennedy said that he would "probably" vaccinate them against measles — a face-saving response, perhaps, given that a massive and deadly measles outbreak has spread amongst unvaccinated populations during his three-and-a-half-month tenure.When asked the same question about whether he'd vaccinate his kids against polio and chickenpox, Kennedy refused to answer directly."What I would say is my opinions about vaccines are irrelevant," the avowed anti-vaxxer contended. "I don’t want to give advice."That assertion raised the hackles of critics who contend not only that the HHS head is supposed to be the nation's guiding light in healthcare, but also that his vaccine opinions have shaped his tenure thus far."The problem is that is his job — the top line of his job description — is the nation's chief health strategist," decried Georges Benjamin, the executive director of the American Public Health Association, in a post-hearing call with reporters. "That is his job, is to give people the best advice that he can. I believe that he's giving up on, in my view, his chief responsibility."As Benjamin notes, Kennedy's stance on vaccines has indeed been behind the HHS secretary's decision to direct dosages of Vitamin A — rather than extra supplies of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines — to be shipped to the West Texas region where the measles outbreak has led to the deaths of two children.(The vitamin, while as good as any other, isn't an effective treatment for measles.)During that same press call, public health practice professor Marissa Levine of the University of South Florida put Kennedy's vaccine obfuscation in even starker terms."I wonder what it would be like," she said, "if the transportation secretary refused to answer a question about whether he would fly."More on RFK Jr.: Government Launching Database of Everyday People With AutismShare This Article

Can't get enough of Wordle? Try Mashable's free version now Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N. What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers. Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though. SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 15, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:To be excited. Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?The letter E appears twice.Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter E.The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.Drumroll please!The solution to today's Wordle is...EAGER.Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle. Topics Wordle

Apple users—specifically those who use Siri through products such as Macbooks, iPhones, and Apple TVs—may be entitled to make a claim after Apple’s class action lawsuit settlement, worth $95 million dollars, regarding the voice-activated assistant.The settlement comes from a lawsuit filed in 2021 by Californian Fumiko Lopez, who claimed that Apple, via Siri, conducted “unlawful and intentional interception and recording of individuals’ confidential communications without their consent and subsequent unauthorized disclosure of those communications.”“Apple intentionally, willfully, and knowingly violated consumers’ privacy rights, including within the sanctity of consumers’ own homes where they have the greatest expectation of privacy,” the lawsuit stated. “Plaintiffs and Class Members would not have bought their Siri Devices, or would have paid less for them, if they had known Apple was intercepting, recording, disclosing, and otherwise misusing their conversations without consent or authorization.”In 2019, Apple published a statement titled "Improving Siri’s privacy protections," in which they said they hadn't "been fully living up" to their "high ideals" and vowed to issue improvements.Apple agreed to the settlement on Dec. 31, 2024. According to the settlement website: "Apple denies all of the allegations made in the lawsuit and denies that [they] did anything improper or unlawful."The website also provides information about who is eligible to file a claim and the deadlines they need to adhere to. Here’s what you need to know about how you can file a claim:Who is eligible to file a claim?People eligible to make a claim include those who owned or purchased a Siri device—which includes the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch, Apple TV—between Sept. 17, 2024 and Dec. 31, 2024. They must have “purchased or owned a Siri Device in the United States or its territories and enabled Siri on that device.”According to the settlement agreement, eligible parties also should have “experienced an unintended Siri activation during a confidential or private communication.”Those not eligible include Apple employees, legal representatives, and judicial officers assigned to the case.How can you make a claim and when is the deadline?Claimants can submit a claim form via the settlement website, and can submit claims for up to five Siri devices. The deadline to make a claim is July 2, 2025. This is also the deadline to opt out of the payment, which would allow the customer to keep their right to bring any other claim against Apple arising out of, or related to, the claims in the case. Some of those eligible to make a claim may have received a postcard or an email—with the subject line “Lopez Voice Assistant Class Action Settlement”—notifying them about the settlement. This correspondence would likely include a Claim Identification Code and a Confirmation Code. Per the settlement website, people can use these codes when making a claim, but eligible Apple customers who haven’t received any correspondence can still file a claim.When can you expect to receive payment?On August 1, 2025, the courts are due to host a final approval hearing, but there could still be appeals. Payments will only be issued after any appeals are resolved. The settlement website is set to keep customers updated on timings and payment schedules, as and when that information is available.

Tesla investors were hopeful that the latest refresh of the EV maker's bestselling Model Y would breathe new life into plummeting sales.But say it ain't so: The addition to the company's rapidly-aging lineup, which launched in January, has turned out to be a dud — at least as far as consumer interest is concerned. Rock-bottom financing deals being offered on the car indicate just how far from being a hot ticket item they actually are, as Reuters reports.In an attempt to compete, Tesla is matching other carmakers' offerings with zero percent financing, suggesting that cars' rarity has become a thing of the past as the competition is starting to grow substantially for the Elon Musk-led firm."Why would you discount and have all these incentives and offers literally out of the gate?" EV data firm Paren chief analyst Loren McDonald told Reuters. "That just doesn't make sense when your margins are already at multiyear lows. That suggests very strongly that there is a demand problem."Sales have fallen off a cliff, a crisis deepened by Musk's embrace of far-right ideals and amid his ongoing involvement in the Trump administration's overhaul of the US government. Sales in China have slumped significantly, while experts warn that the company is facing a "death spiral" in Europe.Despite the alarming numbers, investors have seemingly been reinvigorated by president Donald Trump pulling back on tariffs aimed at China and Musk's promises to spend more time leading the carmaker. Tesla's shares are up over 18 percent over the last five days, reentering the trillion-dollar club.But as recent history has shown, that valuation has increasingly become divorced from Tesla's structural woes and a greatly tarnished brand overall.The new Model Y — which to the average consumer is almost indistinguishable from its predecessor — likely won't be the company's saving grace, either."No one's looking at that vehicle thinking, 'Oh, that's totally different and new,' and I think that may be part of the issue," Edmunds head of insights Jessica Caldwell told Reuters.And it's not just the new Model Y. The automaker's inventory of unsold Cybertrucks has reached a record high of over 10,000 units. So far, the company has fallen dramatically short of Musk's promises of selling a quarter million of the pickups per year.Meanwhile, Musk has bet the future of the company on a purportedly self-driving robotaxi, which will be slowly rolling out, starting in Austin this summer."There will be millions of Teslas operating fully autonomously in the second half of next year," Musk vowed during the company's earnings call last month.But given his abysmal track record of making good on his word, that's far from being a guarantee.Share This Article

Can't get enough of Wordle? Try Mashable's free version now Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N. What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers. Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though. SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 14, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:A type of drum. Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?The letter O appears twice.Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.Drumroll please!The solution to today's Wordle is...BONGO.Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle. Topics Wordle