Bungie confirms that an artists work was taken and used in Marathon without their permission
3 minute readPublished: Friday, May 16, 2025 at 9:32 am
Bungie, the developer behind the upcoming extraction shooter *Marathon*, has admitted to using an artist's work without permission in the game's recently released alpha. Scottish artist Fern Hook, known online as 4nt1r34l, accused Bungie of lifting assets from her 2017 poster designs and incorporating them into *Marathon's* environments. She shared comparison images on social media platform X, highlighting the similarities.
Bungie swiftly responded, acknowledging the claims were accurate. They confirmed that a former Bungie artist was responsible for including the unauthorized assets in a texture sheet used in the game. The staff member is no longer employed by the company.
In a statement released on the game's official Discord server, Bungie stated they are taking the matter seriously and have reached out to Hook to discuss the issue. They emphasized their policy of not using artists' work without permission. To prevent future incidents, Bungie is conducting a thorough review of in-game assets created by the former artist and implementing stricter checks to document all artist contributions.
Hook, who has been creating art for a decade, expressed frustration with the situation, stating she has struggled to make a consistent income from her work while designers from large companies have been "moodboarding and parasitising" her designs. Since her initial posts, Hook has received significant support and donations.
*Marathon* is scheduled for release on September 23rd on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC. While Bungie has confirmed it will be a premium product, the price has yet to be officially announced, though reports suggest a potential $40 price tag.
Keywords: Bungie, Marathon, Fern Hook, 4nt1r34l, art theft, plagiarism, game development, alpha, assets, poster designs, unauthorized use, artist, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PC, September 23rd, extraction shooter