On May 16, 2025, Bungie, a studio renowned for its innovative titles such as Halo and Destiny, became involved in a new controversy. This issue differs from previous disputes over gameplay or microtransactions, as it centers on an accusation of plagiarism filed by an independent artist concerning their upcoming game, Marathon. Fern Hook, a 30-year-old Scottish artist known by the pseudonym Antireal, has accused Bungie of unauthorized use of her works in the alpha version of Marathon. “The game is filled with assets that were taken from posters I created in 2017,” she stated on Twitter. While an initial trailer released in 2023 had raised her suspicions, it did not then include elements directly referencing her work.
In April 2025, everything changed when content creators began posting gameplay videos from an open alpha version. “Very quickly, I recognized my work,” she told The Washington Post. Elements of futuristic typography, icons, and graphic compositions seen in Marathon were directly inspired by her works, which had been published as early as 2017 on platforms like Tumblr and X (formerly Twitter). She even expresses a paradoxical sense of relief: “It was almost reassuring to see blatant plagiarism because it meant I wasn’t crazy for having this unease.” Advised to remain silent to consider legal proceedings, Fern Hook ultimately decided to放弃追诉，原因是缺乏时间和资源，以及面对索尼这家Bung伊的母公司时可能面临的广泛法律后果。To maintain the requested format and ensure clarity:In April 2025, everything changed when content creators began posting gameplay videos from an open alpha version. “Very quickly, I recognized my work,” she told The Washington Post. Elements of futuristic typography, icons, and graphic compositions seen in Marathon were directly inspired by her works, which had been published as early as 2017 on platforms like Tumblr and X (formerly Twitter). She even expresses a paradoxical sense of relief: “It was almost reassuring to see blatant plagiarism because it meant I wasn’t crazy for having this unease.” Advised to remain silent to consider legal proceedings, Fern Hook ultimately decided to放弃追诉，原因是缺乏时间和资源，以及面对索尼这家Bungie的母公司时可能面临的广泛法律后果。
Bungie acknowledges that an ex-artist from the studio incorporated unauthorized representations into a texture used within one of their games, as alerted by the press and subsequently addressed in Bungie’s statement published on X. Sony Interactive Entertainment directed attention to this issue. The studio has stated they contacted Hook, initiated an internal audit, and promised stricter checks to verify the origin of all artist assets used in their projects. This is not the first time Bungie has been accused of plagiarism. In 2024, the studio was criticized for using a work by artist Tofu Rabbit in a Destiny 2 derivative product without permission. At that time, Bungie compensated the artist after acknowledging the mistake. These recurring incidents raise concerns about the studio’s internal practices regarding copyright respect.
A tarnished image in a fragile context: Marathon, a reboot of a 1990s classic, was intended to signal a renewal for the studio. The visual universe, a blend of neon colors and retro-futuristic aesthetics reminiscent of Wipeout, had been praised as one of the few innovative elements of the project. However, this very aspect is now under scrutiny. For the distinctive style actually draws its roots from the work of an independent artist, which was allegedly appropriated without permission. In a financially challenging period for Bungie, recently affected by layoffs and internal restructuring, this issue risks further damaging an already fragile image. The studio is now compelled not only to demonstrate transparency but also to regain integrity in its approach to artistic creation.
For Fern Hook, unfortunately, this isn’t the first time she has encountered such issues. “I’ve seen my work being traced or stolen multiple times over the past ten years,” she confides. Tired of being perceived as ‘the complainer’, she had learned to stay silent. But this time, support poured in. Hundreds of people made donations to support her online projects. Beyond her visual art, Hook is also a drum and bass music composer and sound designer under the name N2, while co-managing a design and software consulting firm, Superstructure. A complete artist with multiple talents, she now finds herself at the center of a symbolic battle. “The support has been incredible,” she admits relievedly. For once, I was seen as an artist, not someone complaining.
This new episode starkly highlights the vulnerability of independent creators in an industry dominated by major players. For Bungie to regain public trust, it will require not only public apologies but also concrete steps to protect and value originality. Without artists, there would be no video games, neither currently nor in the future.
