Destiny 2 Artist Claims Bungie Never Delivered Promised Compensation for Unauthorized Use of Fan Art

However, the main issue here isn't ownership. Rather, it's that Bungie promised to pay the artist and they didn't.

At the very least, the noise has prompted a response. Principal Community Manager, known as Cozmo, has publicly reached out to Faylona, acknowledging the oversight and promising to "track this down."

The controversy has also reignited discussions about the broader issues faced by the gaming industry as it attempts to cut down on costs while still delivering the same quality product, resulting in an increasing reliance on outsourcing various aspects of game development and marketing. Critics argue this practice leads to a disconnect between a company's core values and the execution of its projects, potentially resulting in oversights and ethical missteps.

Then again, it's become somewhat of a recurring problem with Bungie, which does put into question whether or not the company is doing this intentionally and hoping no one notices or is brave enough to speak up.

For what it's worth, this highlights the power of social media in bringing attention to certain issues that would've otherwise been swept under the rug.

Bungie hasn't issued an official statement addressing Faylona's claims. The outcome of this situation could have far-reaching implications for developers interacting with fan artists and managing the use of community-created content in the future.

Bungie is under heavy pressure to deliver for Sony following Concord's failure. Their upcoming revival of an older franchise, Marathon, is part of Sony's live-service lineup, along with Fairgame$, which could be met with the same lukewarm reception as Concord, if not worse.