Marathon Art Director Departs Bungie as the Game Enters Its Final Stretch

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Joseph Cross, who was the art director for Bungie’s new game, Marathon, has left the company.

So, Kotaku first spotted it, but now Cross has officially confirmed the news with a quick post online! I’m really excited to see what this means.

This announcement follows quickly after Marathon was reworked based on feedback from initial player testing.

After listening to player feedback, people are now reacting much more positively to the sci-fi shooter game.

Marathon features a unique and visually striking art style, characterized by bold colors and a gritty science fiction setting. Cross, the lead artist behind this look, is leaving Bungie a few months before the game’s planned March 2026 release.

It seems he likely finished most of his work around this time. However, we should also consider the controversy surrounding his art, which may have played a role in his decision to stop working on it.

Recently, it came to light that the game included artwork by an independent artist without their consent.

The issue has now been fixed—the copied content has been taken down and replaced with original artwork. However, the incident did damage the game’s and Bungie’s reputation.

Cross looked particularly deflated during a livestream in which the studio addressed the issue.

Things are actually looking pretty good for Marathon right now! I heard the art director is going to be playing it like one of us fans soon, which is awesome. It means they’re really focused on making it a great experience.

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2025-12-19 15:36