The gaming industry finds itself in a swirl of controversy as Bungie admits to using artwork from freelance artist Fern Hook without permission in the upcoming release of Marathon. This situation emerged following playtests of the game, where Hook recognized their original designs embedded in the game’s visuals, sparking a wave of discussion among fans and creators alike.
On their social media, Hook voiced their discontent, stating, “The recently released alpha version of Marathon features environments filled with elements drawn from my 2017 poster designs.” Expressing disappointment, Hook remarked, “Bungie isn’t obligated to hire me for their game, especially one that appears to draw from stylistic elements I’ve developed over the last ten years. However, it’s evident they found my work compelling enough to use it extensively without credit or compensation.”
In light of these claims, Bungie responded through their Marathon Dev Team account, revealing that an internal review confirmed the designs were indeed appropriated by a former staff member. “Our current art team was unaware of this situation,” the company stated. They assured followers that they are investigating how this oversight occurred, emphasizing their commitment to respecting artists’ intellectual property. Furthermore, they have reached out to Hook in hopes of rectifying the matter.
Bungie also outlined proactive measures to prevent such issues moving forward. They are scrutinizing in-game assets associated with the former employee and are set to strengthen their internal protocols to ensure appropriate documentation of all artistic contributions. “We take these matters with utmost seriousness,” the company reiterated.
This isn’t the first time Bungie has faced scrutiny over the unauthorized usage of artists’ work; accusations around similar practices have surfaced in reference to Destiny 2, raising questions about the company’s practices and regard for creative rights.
Reviewing the challenges, Hook reflected, “I lack both the financial resources and energy to pursue legal action. It’s become all too common for larger companies to either replicate or outright steal my designs rather than simply seeking permission.” With nearly a decade in the industry, Hook lamented, “I haven’t achieved a stable income from this work, and I’m exhausted by the notion of large corporations using my creations as inspiration while I am left struggling to make ends meet.”
As for the highly anticipated reboot of Marathon, fans are excited for its official release on September 23 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Previews have painted an engaging picture of the game’s sci-fi universe, causing a surge of enthusiasm among gamers. However, the shadow of this incident casts a cautionary note regarding the integrity of creativity within the gaming realm.
