Fordes: Strelni maraton v limbu zaradi resnih obtožb o plagiarizmu

According to a new report from Forbes, morale at Bungie has hit a new low as the studio grapples with a growing scandal surrounding its upcoming PvP shooter Marathon. Even before release, the game has been mired in controversy due to allegations of asset plagiarism.

The situation erupted when artist 4nt1r34l shared a viral social media post comparing her original works from 2017 with alpha footage from Marathon. She claimed that the game's designers had used her logos, textures, design elements, and even “Easter eggs” without credit or compensation.

The post quickly gained traction, amassing nearly 10 million views and sparking outrage across the gaming community. Bungie responded, admitting that a former employee had indeed incorporated her work into the game's texture packs, which were ultimately included in the build. Making matters worse, 4nt1r34l pointed out that Bungie’s current art director, Joseph Cross, had been following her online for years—raising further questions.

While Bungie has promised a full investigation and corrective measures, the fallout has already impacted the studio. During a recent stream addressing the plagiarism accusations, the developers were met with harsh criticism from viewers. According to journalist Paul Tassi from Forbes, the scandal has triggered a deep sense of demoralization among staff, and internal discussions about delaying the game to 2026 are already underway.

Sources indicate that plans to postpone Marathon were being considered even before the plagiarism story broke. Bungie had already canceled a planned June preorder campaign and shifted from a public beta to a roadmap of testing phases. Additionally, internal friction persists—developers reportedly pushed for the inclusion of PvE content years ago, but their feedback was dismissed by leadership.

As of now, Marathon is still officially scheduled for release on September 23, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. However, with the investigation ongoing and the controversy far from resolved, a delay seems increasingly likely.

Notably, this isn’t the first time Bungie has faced plagiarism allegations—similar issues were previously raised regarding reused assets in Destiny 2.