Bungie Initiates Comprehensive Review Following Uncredited Artwork Incident

Destiny 2 developer Bungie is facing fresh allegations of plagiarism, this time linked to its upcoming sci-fi shooter, Marathon. The accusations come from artist Antireal, who claims that elements of their artwork, originally shared on social media in 2017, have been used without permission in the game's environments. Screenshots from Marathon's alpha playtest, shared via a tweet, purportedly show distinct icons and graphics designed by Antireal.

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

In a statement on X/Twitter, Antireal expressed frustration, noting that while Bungie was not obligated to hire them, the studio had used their work without compensation or credit. The artist highlighted the recurring issue of major companies exploiting their designs without proper acknowledgment, impacting their ability to earn a consistent income.

Bungie responded swiftly, launching an investigation and attributing the unauthorized use of the decals to a former artist. The studio reached out to Antireal to address the issue directly. In a public statement, Bungie emphasized its commitment to rectifying the situation and preventing future occurrences by reviewing in-game assets and implementing stricter documentation processes.

"We immediately investigated a concern regarding unauthorized 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 team stated. "This issue was unknown by our existing art team, and we are still reviewing how this oversight occurred.

"We take matters like this very seriously. We have reached out to [the artist] 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.

"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. We value the creativity and dedication of all artists who contribute to our games, and we are committed to doing right by them. Thank you for bringing this to our attention."

This is not the first time Bungie has faced such accusations. In October, the studio was sued by a writer who claimed plot elements from his story were used in Destiny 2's 2017 storyline, The Red War. Bungie attempted to dismiss the lawsuit but was denied by a judge, as the studio struggled to provide evidence, especially since the content in question had been "vaulted" and was no longer accessible to the public.

Just weeks before that lawsuit, Bungie investigated how a NERF gun based on Destiny 2's Ace of Spades was nearly identical to fanart from 2015, down to the finest details.