Bungie Loses Marathon Art Director Joseph Cross Months Before Game’s 2026 Launch

Bungie’s acclaimed art director Joseph Cross has exited the studio just months before the highly anticipated Marathon extraction shooter is set to launch in 2026. Cross, who helped define the game’s visual style over a 14-year career at Bungie, announced his decision publicly, confirming his departure is voluntary, and not the result of the recent plagiarism uproar that rattled the project.

The sudden change in artistic leadership lands at a precarious moment for Marathon, a game that’s already been fighting to win back public trust after a rocky development cycle and online controversies. Fans and industry watchers are now asking: Can Bungie deliver a fresh start for Marathon without its visual architect?

Joseph Cross Opens Up About His Decision

News of Cross’s departure broke after eagle-eyed users noticed updated profiles on his LinkedIn and social media. Taking to X, Cross addressed the community directly: “I’m incredibly proud of the visual world we built for Marathon. Getting support at this scale for something a bit different is rare, and the art team at Bungie is the best in the biz. I’ll be enjoying playing the game as a fan with all of you. Massive thank you to everyone who has supported me through all of it.”

Given the recent controversy, some immediately speculated that Cross’s exit might be connected to Marathon’s plagiarism scandal. Earlier in the month, artist Antireal accused Bungie of using their work without permission. While Antireal has since said the matter is “resolved to my satisfaction,” suspicions lingered that the shakeup went deeper. Kotaku’s Ethan Gach reached out to Cross, who replied that leaving the studio was entirely his own choice. “I’m super proud of the project and what the team accomplished over the last six years,” Cross stated, emphasising that he’s leaving on a high note and by his own decision.

Marathon’s Tumultuous Journey: Overhauls, Taglines, and Fan Scepticism

Cross’s exit comes on the heels of Marathon’s latest gameplay deep dive, where Bungie pulled back the curtain on some significant changes. The game now boasts a solo queue, proximity chat options, and more aggressive PvE enemies from UESC. For fans who have followed its development, it’s clear the project has pivoted; Bungie seems determined to reshape Marathon into something more ambitious after a rough start.

The game’s messaging is also shifting. Marathon’s tagline has changed from “Escape will make me God” to the bleak “Death is the first step.” Bungie hasn’t explained the switch, but it comes after Marathon’s plagiarism ordeal birthed mocking memes, with detractors twisting the old line into “Plagiarism will make me God.” It’s the kind of viral ridicule that lingers, challenging Bungie’s efforts to recapture goodwill ahead of launch.

Despite the upheavals, Cross’s departure isn’t stopping the project. In public statements and gameplay previews, Bungie has doubled down on its commitment to Marathon’s bold new direction. The art team, praised by Cross himself as “the best in the biz,” will carry his vision through to release in March 2026.

Marathon’s future now hangs in a delicate balance, with fans and critics alike waiting to see if Bungie can claw back momentum and put the game on a solid footing for launch. Losing a key creative force like Joseph Cross so close to release is a seismic shift, but with a retooled feature set and renewed determination, there’s still time for Bungie to rewrite the conversation around its troubled shooter.