Bungie is once again being accused of using someone else's work without permission. Artist Antireal has posted a comparison between her 2017 posters and elements of the Marathon environment. She claims that her designs were used without consent, payment, or even credit.
The designs from the alpha version of the game are similar to her work, including images with the words “ALEPH” and “Dark-space haulage logistics,” as well as a number of logos. The similarities were also confirmed by PC Gamer after reviewing gameplay videos.
Antireal says it cannot pursue legal action due to a lack of resources. Bungie has acknowledged that the elements were added by a former studio employee. The company said it is conducting an internal review and is “looking to resolve the situation” with the artist.
This is not the first time Bungie has been accused of using fan art without permission. In 2021–2023, the studio acknowledged using fan art without permission, agreeing to pay compensation to the authors, and in 2024, another artist's fan art was used as a weapon design.