Marathon remains on track for a FY2025 release despite plagiarism concerns. Discover more about the game's controversy and Sony's lessons from the Concord setback.

Marathon Targets Sony’s FY2025 Release Window

Slated for September 23 Despite Plagiarism Issues

Marathon is poised to launch in Sony’s fiscal year 2025, undeterred by ongoing plagiarism disputes. During Sony’s Game & Network Services Segment presentation on June 13, the company outlined release plans for its live-service titles, confirming Marathon’s FY2025 debut.

The presentation emphasized a focus on “Strong Early Engagement for Bungie’s Bold and Innovative New Title.” Although Bungie confirmed the game’s release date in an April gameplay showcase, recent controversies could pose challenges to their plans.

Last month, digital artist Fern Hook, known as ANTIREAL, posted on BlueSky, claiming, “The Marathon alpha released recently, and its environments feature assets taken from poster designs I created in 2017.” She shared images as evidence, suggesting Bungie not only drew inspiration from her work but used it directly, with some graphics showing her name poorly obscured.

Bungie responded on Twitter (X) on May 16, stating, “We promptly investigated concerns about unauthorized use of artist decals in Marathon and found that a former Bungie artist included these in a texture sheet used in-game.”

In a Developer PlayMA stream on May 17, Marathon Art Director Joseph Cross elaborated, “An artist working on Marathon used elements from a graphic designer without permission or credit, incorporating them into a decal sheet checked in during 2020. These elements appeared in our alpha build, and there’s no excuse for this oversight. We’re improving our review process to prevent future incidents.”

Bungie reached out to ANTIREAL to address the issue, but the artist offered no further comments. Fans pointed out inconsistencies in Bungie’s response, noting that many art team members followed ANTIREAL on social media, where her work was publicly visible.

ANTIREAL confirmed that Cross and other Bungie staff had followed her accounts for years but never contacted her directly.

No further updates have emerged, and Bungie insists Marathon’s release remains on schedule. Sony’s recent presentation did not specify an exact launch date, only reaffirming the FY2025 window.

Sony Reflects on Concord’s Challenges

Sony’s robust lineup of live-service titles, including MLB: The Show, Destiny 2, and Helldivers 2, faced hurdles with Concord’s launch. During the Game & Network Services Fireside Chat on June 13, SIE Studio Business Group CEO Hermen Hulst discussed the company’s live-service strategy and excitement for Marathon’s debut.

To avoid repeating Concord’s missteps, Hulst emphasized stricter research and review processes. “For Marathon, we aim to deliver a bold, innovative, and highly engaging title. As Bungie’s first new game in over a decade, we’re thrilled about its potential,” he said, referencing Bungie’s legacy with Halo and Destiny.

Hulst acknowledged “varied” feedback but remained confident. “At launch, we’ll give the title every chance to succeed. The cycle of testing, iterating, and retesting is critical to live-service success, both pre-launch and throughout the game’s lifecycle,” he added.

With the release just months away, Bungie faces pressure following Sony’s Concord challenges. Nevertheless, executives are optimistic about Marathon’s prospects in the competitive live-service market.

Marathon is scheduled to launch on September 23, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay informed with the latest updates on the game in our article below!