The controversy surrounding Bungie’s latest project, Marathon, has taken a surprising turn as the artist Fern “Antireal” Hook announces a resolution with the game studio and its parent company, Sony. Hook had previously accused Bungie of using her designs without permission, stirring quite a storm in the gaming community. Her recent update brings a sense of closure to this artistic dispute.
Artist’s Concerns Resolved
In a brief update shared on X/Twitter, Hook stated, “The Marathon art issue has been resolved with Bungie and Sony Interactive Entertainment to my satisfaction.” While the details of the resolution remain undisclosed, the acknowledgment of her work marks the end of a contentious chapter.
Bungie, known for developing Destiny 2, faced accusations of plagiarism when Hook identified elements of her artwork in the upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon. Screenshots from the game’s alpha playtest revealed icons and graphics Hook claimed as her own, initially shared on social media back in 2017.
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. pic.twitter.com/G3FbPtbPJD
— N² (@4nt1r34l) May 15, 2025
Bungie’s Response to Accusations
Following these allegations, Marathon’s game director Joe Ziegler and art director Joe Cross publicly apologized in a challenging livestream, noting the absence of any Marathon art or footage as the team diligently reviewed all assets. The studio confirmed that a “former Bungie artist” used Hook’s work without appropriate credit or payment. The game’s release was subsequently delayed to 2026 as Bungie worked through the aftermath and addressed feedback from playtests.
In October, Bungie reignited interest by announcing a limited playtest for Marathon, targeting players in North America and Europe on PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and Steam. Yet, the shadow of the art controversy still lingers.
Challenges Ahead for Marathon
The troubled development of Marathon continues to unfold, as even the director of its reveal cinematic felt compelled to publicly assert the work’s authenticity against AI-related claims. Meanwhile, the pressure mounts; Sony recently disclosed that Bungie hasn’t met its expected sales and engagement benchmarks, incurring a $200 million impairment charge. With Destiny 2’s own challenges in the background, Marathon’s success is crucial for Bungie’s future.