Bungie credits artist whose work was plagiarized for Marathon

Bungie credits artist whose work was plagiarized for Marathon

Last year, artist Fern “4nt1r34l” Hook revealed that several visual design components in the game were borrowed from her portfolio without authorization.

Bungie found itself at the center of a controversy last year involving its upcoming shooter, Marathon. The dispute began when artist Fern “4nt1r34l” Hook pointed out that certain aesthetic elements of the game were strikingly similar to her own creations, used without her consent.

In May, the artist provided visual evidence comparing her 2017 illustrations with assets found in the early alpha build of the 2025 extraction shooter. Bungie responded swiftly with an apology and a commitment to investigating the matter. The incident initially cast a shadow over the studio, leading to internal concerns about the project’s direction and a temporary suspension of the game’s marketing efforts.

However, the situation has taken a constructive turn. Observant fans noticed that 4nt1r34l is now featured in the final credits of Marathon as a “Visual Design Consultant.” Notably, she is the only person listed with this specific title, appearing alongside the project’s other lead artists.

@ehudkurzweil.bsky.social
@ehudkurzweil.bsky.social

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