Bungie’s Marathon Has Lost Its Art Director Just Months Before Release

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I’m a bit worried to hear that Joseph Cross, the art director for Marathon, is leaving Bungie so close to the game’s release. It’s especially disappointing because they just announced a March 2026 date after delaying it because of feedback from the alpha tests. Hopefully, this won’t cause any major setbacks for the game!

People noticed Cross was leaving Bungie after his LinkedIn and social media profiles were updated, and he later told Kotaku he had decided to leave on his own. He shared that he was very proud of the work the team had done on the project over the past six years.

Having previously worked as lead concept artist on Destiny, Cross rejoined Bungie in 2020 to contribute to the visual design of Marathon. This new shooting game aims to be one of Bungie’s most distinctive titles visually, featuring a striking style Cross calls “graphic realism.”

Earlier this year, the art style of the game Marathon sparked controversy when artist Antireal publicly accused Bungie of using stolen artwork on X (formerly Twitter), directly mentioning both Bungie and artist Joseph Cross. Bungie responded, stating the problematic assets were created by a former employee. Antireal later confirmed she was satisfied with how the situation was resolved.

Cross has announced his departure on X (formerly Twitter), expressing how proud he is of his work on the Marathon project. He noted that it’s unusual to receive such strong support for a unique game, and praised Bungie’s art team as the best in the industry. He’s looking forward to experiencing the game as a player alongside the community.

Okay, so I just heard that Marathon is finally dropping in March 2026! It’s coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, which is awesome. And the best part? It’ll cost $40, the same as Arc Raiders, so it won’t break the bank. I’m definitely marking that release date on my calendar!

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2025-12-19 12:39