The plagiarism controversy surrounding Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter Marathon has been settled. Artist Antireal announced on December 2, 2025, that the matter with Bungie and Sony Interactive Entertainment has been resolved to her satisfaction. No details on the resolution were provided.
Background on the Controversy
Earlier in 2025, Bungie faced accusations of using artwork from independent artist Antireal without her consent in Marathon, an upcoming hero-based extraction shooter. The studio investigated the claims and confirmed that a former Bungie artist had included the stolen pieces in a texture sheet used in-game. Bungie issued an apology, attributing the incident to an oversight by the ex-employee, and committed to reviewing all assets to prevent future occurrences.
Resolution Announcement
On December 2, 2025, Antireal posted on X (formerly Twitter) stating, 'The Marathon art issue has been resolved with Bungie and Sony Interactive Entertainment to my satisfaction.' This update came after months of silence following the initial scandal in May 2025, when Marathon's art director Joseph Cross personally apologized during a live stream, saying, 'There’s absolutely no excuse for this oversight.'
Game Development Context
The controversy added to challenges for Marathon, which Bungie delayed indefinitely in June 2025 from its original September 23 release date. Recent private tests have been conducted, but no new launch window has been set, though Sony executives indicated a release before April 2026. Sony's Hermen Hulst emphasized the game's goal as a 'very bold, very innovative, and deeply engaging title,' with ongoing iteration to ensure live-service success, learning from the failure of Concord.
Early previews highlighted Marathon's aesthetic as a strength, though overall reception has been mixed among fans of Bungie and the genre.