Bungie, the developer behind the upcoming extraction shooter Marathon, is facing accusations of artwork plagiarism. The controversy centers around a dispute involving artist Fern Hook, who claims that Bungie used in-game textures that closely resemble her original artwork without permission.
Timeline of Events
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May 15: Hook first brought attention to the issue, accusing Bungie of using her art in Marathon. She claimed that the similarities between her work and Bungie’s textures were so striking that they could be considered plagiarism. In a series of tweets, Hook shared images comparing her original artwork with the textures used in Marathon.
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May 16: Bungie responded to Hook’s accusations by releasing a statement. The company explained that "a former Bungie artist" had included Hook’s art in a texture sheet without informing or obtaining consent from other members of the art team. They acknowledged that this was not an isolated incident and suggested that there may be other instances of unauthorized use of external assets within their game development process.
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May 17: In response to the allegations, Bungie announced it would conduct a thorough review of its in-game assets to identify any potential instances of unauthorized use. The company also stated its intention to reach out directly to artists whose work may have been misused and offer them compensation for any losses incurred.
Industry Implications
The controversy surrounding Marathon has sparked debate among gamers and industry professionals about issues related to intellectual property rights within game development processes. This situation highlights the importance of proper authorization and credit for artists’ work in the gaming industry.
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