Independent artist N² @4nt1r341 has accused Bungie of directly using her artwork in the game Marathon without permission, payment or any minor edits. Screenshots reveal her designs from 2017 across in-game environments. Although Bungie doesn’t deny this, they state that were added by a former artist and included in a texture sheet employed in the game.
This reply was posted by the account @MarathonDevTeam on X, an unverified profile, that is followed by @MarathonTheGame account, giving it an air of being official. The decision not to verify seem strategic. Perhaps a way to handle negative feedback quietly. Without causing any further escalation.
For over a decade @4nt1r341 has been refining her design style and shared that she has witnessed companies copying or imitating her creations on numerous occasions. She expressed “I have lost count of the number of times a major company has deemed it easier to pay a designer to imitate or steal my work than to write me an email”. Despite her influence, she’s never made a stable income from her art.
As the fan-run @MarathonBulletin asked: “How does this keep happening at Bungie?” This isn’t the first time the studio’s been accused of lifting work from artists.
This controversy sheds light on an issue in the field of art, many companies are turning to low-cost agencies that rely on poorly compensated artists from countries such as India. Meanwhile independent artists in the West who contribute to shaping trends are finding it difficult to make a living.
Creativity is valued, but Creators aren’t.