Bungie Faces Existential Crisis After Plagiarism Scandal: Fans Debate Studio's Future

As the developer of Destiny 2, Bungie faces a critical challenge in restoring its reputation following accusations of art plagiarism in its upcoming game, Marathon. The community is rife with speculation about the studio's future and the fate of Marathon.

Last week, an independent artist accused Bungie of using their artwork without permission, leading to an "immediate investigation" by the studio. Bungie acknowledged that a "former Bungie artist" had indeed incorporated Fern Hook's work without proper credit or compensation.

In a tense livestream on Friday night, Marathon game director Joe Ziegler and art director Joe Cross issued an apology, emphasizing that the team is "still scrubbing all of our assets" to ensure respect for the situation. The absence of any Marathon art or footage during the stream underscored the gravity of the issue.

Since the livestream, the community has been buzzing with questions about the identity of the "former artist" and the implications for Marathon. Some players feel "hollow" about the situation, while others question whether Marathon can succeed amidst the controversy. One player suggested that without a delay, the game could be "DOA" (dead on arrival), potentially costing Bungie over $100 million. Another hypothesized a lukewarm reception similar to a recent Destiny expansion, predicting a short lifespan for Marathon before it enters maintenance mode and eventual shutdown.

The mention of the "Concord situation" by a community member highlights the stakes. Firewalk Studios' online hero shooter, Concord, was pulled from sale shortly after its disastrous launch last year, selling as few as 25,000 units and peaking at just 697 concurrent players on Steam.

Marathon - Gameplay Screenshots

View 14 ImagesIn a different thread, a fan expressed concern for the studio's employees, referencing Destiny lore YouTuber My Name is Byf's excellent video summary of the situation. They called for Bungie to make amends with the independent artist, Antireal, and take steps to prevent future incidents. The fan hopes to see Marathon succeed and retain its unique art style.

Not all potential players are deterred by the controversy. One said they remain excited for Marathon, dismissing the art drama as overblown. They anticipate features like alien encounters and character customization, expressing high hopes for the game.

Another replied with a broader perspective on artistic inspiration, suggesting that while copying is unacceptable, the concept of completely original art is debatable. They believe the situation is overblown.

A community member added a message of support for Bungie employees, reminding them of the millions of fans rooting for Marathon's success. However, Forbes reports that the studio is currently in "chaos," with morale plummeting. Marathon is slated to launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S on September 23.