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| A poster from Bungie's late 2025 closed Marathon testing announcement article. A person's silhouette is depicted. |
One of the video game industry's most talked-about digital art disputes of the year has reached a positive conclusion. The 2025 plagiarism controversy surrounding Bungie's upcoming reboot of Marathon has been resolved, according to the Scottish artist at its center.
Fern Hook, who creates under the name Antireal, announced on the social media platform X that her high-profile dispute with Bungie and its parent company, Sony Interactive Entertainment, over the unauthorized use of her artwork has been settled "to my satisfaction."
This announcement brings closure to a scandal that erupted earlier this year, casting a shadow over the highly anticipated game's reveal and sparking widespread debate about artistic integrity in AAA game development.
From Discovery to Viral Outcry: How the Scandal Unfolded
The issue first surfaced during the spring of 2025. Hook, a graphic designer known for her dystopian and cyberpunk-inspired poster art, was watching Bungie's livestream showcasing the Marathon alpha build. To her surprise, she recognized her own work.
She promptly took to X, tagging Bungie's Art Director Joseph Cross, and posted direct, side-by-side comparisons. The evidence was stark: specific graphic design elements and text from posters she created in 2017 appeared to be copied directly into the game's environmental textures.
"The Marathon alpha released recently and its environments are covered with assets lifted from poster designs I made in 2017," Hook stated at the time.
The gaming community's reaction was swift and fierce. The post went viral, with players and industry observers alike expressing outrage and disappointment. The scandal threatened to undermine confidence in Bungie's creative process just as hype for Marathon was building.
Bungie's Swift Response and Internal Investigation
Facing significant backlash, Bungie acted quickly. Art Director Joseph Cross responded publicly, confirming the validity of Hook's claims. He explained that a former pre-production artist had "taken several graphic elements from a graphic designer without permission or acknowledgement, and then placed them on a decal sheet that was then checked in" to the game's asset library.
Cross issued a sincere and comprehensive apology. "There’s absolutely no excuse for this oversight," he stated, emphasizing Bungie's commitment to a thorough review process to prevent future occurrences. He also praised Hook's work, noting a "mutual appreciation for a specific genre of graphic design."
In a tangible move to address the problem, Bungie canceled its planned follow-up livestream, pulling all gameplay footage. The studio initiated an internal review to identify and strip any and all "inappropriately sourced" art from Marathon.
A Satisfactory Resolution, Though Details Remain Private
The recent update from Fern Hook marks the final chapter in this story. Her concise statement on X brought relief to many who had followed the case.
"The Marathon art issue has been resolved with Bungie and Sony Interactive Entertainment to my satisfaction."
You can view Fern Hook's announcement of the resolution here:
https://x.com/4nt1r34l/status/1995907613004018047
While the exact terms of the agreement between Hook, Bungie, and Sony remain confidential—and neither Bungie nor Sony has released an official public statement on the resolution—Hook's declaration of satisfaction suggests a fair outcome was reached, potentially involving compensation, credit, or a combination of remedies.
Industry Implications and Moving Forward
The Marathon art scandal of 2025 serves as a critical case study for the gaming industry. It highlights the vulnerabilities in large-scale, collaborative development pipelines where assets can be improperly sourced. It also demonstrates the power of artists using social media to call out major corporations and hold them accountable.
For gamers, the resolution is good news, allowing the focus to shift back to Marathon's gameplay and legitimate artistic vision. The incident has undoubtedly led to stricter vetting procedures at Bungie and likely serves as a cautionary tale for other studios.
As the industry continues to evolve, the emphasis on original art and proper licensing is clearer than ever. This resolution with Fern Hook shows that when mistakes happen, accountability and amicable solutions are possible.
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