Marathon’s Art Director Departs Bungie Ahead of Launch

Marathon may be the most visually impressive title Bungie has ever created, but the art director behind it will not be around for the game’s launch. Recent reports indicate that veteran artist Joseph Cross has decided to leave the studio just months before the extraction shooter is set to release in March 2026.

Cross’s departure was first noted earlier today. His LinkedIn profile now shows an end date for his senior art director role at Bungie in 2025, and his social media account no longer mentions the studio. He previously served as a lead concept artist during the Destiny era and returned in 2020 to help define the visual style of Marathon, Bungie’s latest multiplayer shooter.

Cross expressed pride in the project and the team’s achievements over the past six years. He also shared a clip on social media from Bungie’s latest video documentary, showcasing how Marathon has evolved following its delay due to negative feedback from an alpha test earlier this year.

Several adjustments have been made to the extraction shooter, including the addition of proximity chat, a feature that has become essential in the popular game Arc Raiders. Originally scheduled for a September release, Marathon is now set to launch early next year.

The delay also came in the wake of concerns regarding allegations that some visual elements in the game were borrowed from external sources. Cross confirmed earlier this month that the art issue has been resolved to his satisfaction with Bungie and Sony Interactive Entertainment.