Earlier this week, Scottish artist Fern Hook posted on social media that her work had appeared within the Marathon alpha with out her data or permission. “Its environments are lined with belongings lifted from poster designs I made in 2017,” Hook wrote on X.
Bungie says that it was made conscious of the problem and decided the artwork staff didn’t know the paintings was stolen and {that a} former worker was answerable for including the belongings. The studio additionally stated it reached out to Fern to debate the matter and that it’s, “dedicated to doing proper by the artist.”
This isn’t the primary time an artist’s work has been used for a Bungie product with out their permission. In 2024, Bungie agreed to compensate the artist Tofu Rabbit after she found that the design for a Future 2-themed Nerf Gun was ripped instantly from her fanart. Bungie has additionally been accused of utilizing different creators’ Future 2 fanart for references and cutscenes with out permission.
Bungie says it’s reviewing its in-game belongings particularly these performed by former staff to make sure this gained’t occur once more (or once more, or once more).
