Marathon is perhaps the most visually striking game Bungie’s ever made, and the artwork director overseeing it received’t be there when the sport ships. Kotaku has discovered that veteran artist Joseph Cross just lately determined to depart the studio. The transfer comes simply months forward of the extraction shooter’s new March 2026 launch date.
Proof of Cross’ departure was first noticed earlier immediately by The Game Post. His LinkedIn profile was just lately up to date to offer his senior artwork director place at Bungie an finish date of 2025, and his account on X not references the studio in any respect. He was a lead concept artist at Bungie all through the Future years and returned to the studio round 2020 to assist form the aesthetic for Marathon, the corporate’s latest multiplayer shooter.
Marathon Artwork Model (a brief thread). To start with because of everybody for all the type phrases and enthusiasm for the artwork model/path in our announce trailer, it has been superb to see. This was the results of many gifted artists working collectively, with the assist of a tremendous pic.twitter.com/ePPi41KA6c
— Joseph Cross (@josephacross) May 30, 2023
Cross advised Kotaku that it was his choice to depart. “I’m super proud of the project and what the team accomplished over the last six years,” he mentioned. He additionally just lately shared a clip on X from Bungie’s latest ViDoc showing how Marathon has evolved following its delay after unfavourable fan suggestions from an alpha check earlier within the 12 months.
Quite a lot of tweaks have been made to the extraction shooter, together with including proximity chat, a function that’s change into a cornerstone of breakout hit Arc Raiders. Initially set to launch again in September, Marathon is now coming early subsequent 12 months.
The delay additionally adopted fallout around allegations that some visible decals within the recreation had been lifted from somebody exterior the studio. “[The] Marathon art issue has been resolved with Bungie and Sony Interactive Entertainment to my satisfaction,” the artist announced earlier this month.
