Marathon's Art Director Departs Studio After 14 Years

Bungie's Marathon Art Director Joseph Cross Departs Studio After 14 Years - Future Plans and Controversy Revealed

Joseph Cross, Art Director for Marathon, announced his departure from Bungie after 14 years with the studio. Cross made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), following Bungie's reveal of Marathon's March 2026 release date. "I am incredibly proud of the visual world we built for Marathon," Cross wrote. "Receiving this level of support for something a bit different is rare, and the Bungie art team is the best in the business. I'll enjoy playing the game as a fan, alongside all of you." Before 2020, Cross served as lead concept artist. He returned to Bungie in 2020 to lead the design of Marathon's visual style. Earlier this year, artist Fern 4nt1r34l Hook (Antireal) accused Bungie and Cross of art theft, sparking controversy over Marathon's art style. Bungie responded that the assets in question belonged to a former employee. According to The Game Post, Cross is set to leave Bungie by 2025. His LinkedIn profile now reflects this change, and his X account no longer mentions the studio. Cross confirmed his decision to Kotaku, adding, "A huge thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this process."

Bungie's Marathon Art Director Joseph Cross Departs Studio Amid Plagiarism Allegations and Resolution with Antireal

While Cross did not elaborate, his departure is likely connected to the plagiarism allegations from May. In response to the accusations, Cross and another Marathon team member released a video acknowledging the error and pledging to resolve the issue with Antireal. In early December, Antireal stated that the situation had been satisfactorily resolved. Bungie recently showcased the latest version of Marathon, which maintains the established visual identity, features graphical enhancements, and incorporates new elements based on public feedback. Marathon is scheduled to launch in March 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

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