A new report reveals Bungie’s morale is in “free-fall” following negative Marathon alpha feedback and art theft controversy, with staff saying “the vibes have never been worse.“
Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter Marathon has hit a rough patch, and it’s not just the fans feeling uneasy. The studio is now facing some of its lowest morale ever, according to a new report. It all started with the reveal of Marathon Closed Alpha, which drew mostly mixed and negative reactions from the community. Instead of excitement, players voiced concerns about the game’s direction, “flat” exterior art, and overall feel.
But things only got worse when an artist named ANTIREAL accused Bungie of stealing her 2017 digital artwork for use in Marathon. The claims quickly gained traction online, leading to heated discussions across social media.
Bungie publicly responded by blaming a single ex-artist for the unauthorized art, promising to fix the situation. On top of that, Marathon’s franchise art director, Joseph Cross, issued a direct personal apology during yesterday’s PlayMA livestream, admitting, “There’s absolutely no excuse for this oversight.”
Bungie Morale in “Free-Fall” According to New Report
Now, new details have come to light thanks to a report from Forbes’ Paul Tassi. After speaking with current and former Bungie employees, Tassi paints a pretty grim picture of what’s going on behind the scenes.
According to the report, morale at Bungie is in “free-fall” across all departments, with some staff saying, “The vibes have never been worse.” The uncertainty over Marathon’s future, combined with the ongoing plagiarism audit and negative alpha reception, has left many worried about what’s next for the studio.
Tassi’s report also mentions that there haven’t been any official talks about delaying Marathon’s planned September release, at least not publicly or in front of the wider dev team. Still, sources say it’s possible those conversations are happening privately between Sony and Bungie’s top leadership.
On the business side, last year, The Game Post reported that Marathon is expected to launch at a $40 price point, not as a free-to-play title, despite early speculation. That still appears to be the plan.
What do you think about the state of Marathon and Bungie’s response so far? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
