Developer pledges changes after independent artist calls out uncredited asset use
Bungie has confirmed it used artwork created by independent artist Antireal (also known as 4nt1r34l) without credit in the recent alpha build of its upcoming game Marathon. The acknowledgment comes after the artist publicly accused the studio of incorporating her 2017 designs into the game’s environment art.
On Thursday, Antireal posted on X (formerly Twitter), alleging that assets from Marathon’s alpha featured visual elements directly lifted from her poster designs. These included distinct triangular V graphics, boxed icons, and a stylized “ALEPH” script — all shown in a series of side-by-side comparisons she provided. She also linked material from Bungie’s Marathon press kit to additional work she created years ago.
🎨 Bungie Responds: “We Confirmed Unauthorized Use”
Shortly after the accusations surfaced, Bungie issued a public statement on X, admitting responsibility:
“We immediately investigated a concern regarding unauthorized use of artist decals in Marathon and confirmed that a former Bungie artist included these in a texture sheet that was ultimately used in-game.”
Bungie emphasized that the incident involved a former employee, and said it’s now conducting a full audit of in-game assets associated with that developer. The studio also announced plans to implement stricter internal review processes for tracking and crediting creative contributions.
“We value the creativity and dedication of all artists who contribute to our games, and we are committed to doing right by them,” Bungie said. “We’ve reached out to 4nt1r34l to discuss this issue and are committed to do right by the artist.”
💸 Community Rallies Behind Antireal
As Bungie investigates, Antireal has received widespread support from the gaming and art communities. Fans donated to her Ko-fi page after the incident went viral, helping compensate her for the unauthorized use of her work.
“Completely overwhelmed by the response to this — thank you so much for the support and especially to those who have donated, it helps enormously,” she wrote.
📚 A Pattern of Missteps
This isn’t Bungie’s first run-in with unauthorized asset use. The studio has previously faced similar allegations:
- 2021: Fan art of a Destiny 2 character appeared in a trailer without permission. Bungie later reached out and properly credited the artist.
- 2023: Another independent creator was belatedly credited and compensated after their art was used in a Destiny 2 cutscene.
- Last year: Bungie admitted to using fan art for the design of a Destiny 2 Nerf blaster without initial attribution.
The Marathon incident marks another chapter in an ongoing conversation about how major developers work with — and sometimes take from — the creative work of independent artists.
🔍 What’s Next?
As Marathon continues through development, all eyes will be on Bungie to see how it follows through on promises of transparency and accountability. In an era where fan and freelance contributions help fuel the culture around major franchises, studios are increasingly being held to higher standards when it comes to art credit, consent, and compensation.
