Bungie Grapples with Plagiarism Scandal as Fans Question Marathon’s Future

As Destiny 2 developer Bungie works to rebuild its reputation following a new accusation of artwork theft by an independent artist in Marathon, its community is left pondering the studio’s next steps.

Last week’s claim triggered an “immediate investigation” and an admission from Bungie that a “former artist” had used Fern Hook’s work without credit or compensation.

On Friday, Marathon game director Joe Ziegler and art director Joe Cross issued an apology during an awkward livestream that showcased no Marathon art or footage, as the team was “still reviewing all assets to ensure respect for the situation.”

Since then, fans have been speculating about the identity of the “former artist” (if one exists, as some doubt), with some expressing feelings of “just feeling hollow.” Others question whether Marathon can succeed and what a failure might mean for the renowned studio.

“The game’s reputation has plummeted from mixed reviews to a plagiarism scandal, just four months from release in the broader gaming community’s eyes. If it’s not delayed, it’s doomed,” suggested one fan. “A flop could mean losses exceeding $100 million, likely more for a AAA title. This is dire.”

“This is a make-or-break moment for Bungie,” they added.

“I expect a tepid launch, much like the Destiny expansion in July,” speculated another. “It’ll get updates until January, then enter maintenance mode until summer 2026, before shutting down, with Bungie likely absorbed by Sony.”

“After the Concord debacle, Sony is surely watching closely,” noted another fan, referencing Firewalk Studios’ online hero shooter, which was pulled from sale just two weeks after launch last year. Its launch was catastrophic, with analysts telling IGN it likely sold only 25,000 units. It debuted with a mere 697 peak concurrent players on Steam, dwarfed by the 12,786 players of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League — which Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav called a disappointment.

Marathon - Gameplay Screenshots

In another thread, a fan commented on Destiny lore YouTuber My Name is Byf’s insightful video summary, saying: “The video made me realize that if Bungie collapses, the brunt will fall on unrelated employees who don’t deserve this.”

“I feel uneasy about it all now. I want Bungie to make amends with [independent artist] Antireal. I want them to ensure this never happens again. I want them to regain the trust needed to make this game stand out, whether through goodwill or a delay. I want to see Marathon shine in this art style.”

Not all fans are deterred, however.

“Honestly, I’m still excited for this game. The art controversy is overblown,” said one. “From what I’ve seen, I expect aliens to eventually appear in the game. I’d love customizable characters, but big changes like that might come later. I’m really hyped for Marathon.”

“A famous musician once said he’d never copyright others’ music because all art traces back to a shared source,” replied another. “Every artist is inspired by others. Blatant copying isn’t okay, but the idea of fully original art is questionable. Similar works have been created simultaneously before. This issue is overhyped.”

“To any Bungie staff reading this, know that millions of fans are rooting for Marathon’s success,” added another. Forbes reports the studio is in “chaos,” with morale plummeting. Marathon is slated for release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S on September 23.