The production required a sizable team and a substantial time investment, countering allegations that the short was generated by AI.

Mielgo asserted that the Marathon cinematic short was not AI-generated, crediting a large team of about 155 artists across painting, animation, 2D/3D work, and compositing.

He stressed that all elements—paintings, animations, 2D/3D work, compositing, and renders—were created without AI, emphasizing human craftsmanship and time.

The piece references Mielgo’s pedigree in visual storytelling, including The Witness and Oscar-winning The Windshield W Wiper, to frame his credibility.

In an Instagram post, Mielgo reiterated that AI cannot replace the joy of making art, while noting AI can assist with text generation in collaborations.

He again stressed that there was no AI involvement in Marathon and reiterated the human-driven nature of the project.

Marathon was delayed after negative alpha feedback, with Sony hinting at a release window before spring 2026 and promising features like proximity chat to address player input.

The story centers on the tension between rapidly advancing AI technology, artistic labor, and the reception of AI-assisted work, using Marathon as a focal point within Bungie’s current development and financial pressures.

Mielgo publicly defends Marathon’s authenticity amid ongoing AI-art debates and Bungie’s broader strategic challenges ahead of the game’s release.

Mielgo addressed a plagiarism scandal, insisting none of Bungie-admitted assets were produced by his team and calling the incident a miscommunication blown out of proportion.

He had previously acknowledged the controversy over graphics allegedly lifted from another artist, with Bungie apologizing and reviewing its pipeline.

Mielgo argues that disputed text and fonts did not reach his team and attributes the issue to a Bungie texture with typos, framing it as a sincere but blown-out-of-proportion mistake.

Allegations of AI use surfaced amid broader online skepticism about AI-assisted art, with questions about the seriousness of the criticisms.

The Marathon cinematic blends CGI, live-action, and the design language of the game to tell a story about mercenary runners on an alien world who are cloned for megacorp sponsors, exploring memory loss and humanity.

Mielgo labels critics and media as sensationalists and touts Bungie’s team as outstanding and professional.

Bungie acknowledged art theft involving a former artist, a factor in Marathon’s development delays and broader media coverage.

The piece places Marathon within Bungie’s wider situation, noting morale challenges, management debates, and a delay with a possible late-2025 to early-2026 release horizon alongside Sony’s impairment figures tied to Bungie’s performance.

Mielgo’s statements come as the AI debate in media rages on and follows a related plagiarism controversy involving Bungie earlier in the year.

The article underscores broader industry tensions around AI in art, generative tools, deepfakes, and the lack of clear AI-disclosure legislation.

Despite the AI controversy, there is no confirmation Marathon is AI-generated, and a Fall release window remains possible with Sony suggesting a launch by late March 2026.

The piece situates Marathon within wider industry concerns about AI versus traditional animation, noting moves by others in the field to curb AI-generated impersonations.

The article urges readers to focus on the final product rather than external baggage surrounding development.

Industry context includes scrutiny of AI in gaming media, with investors and lawmakers weighing AI deployment, artist involvement, profit-sharing, and potential taxation implications.

Mielgo expresses that his stance on AI is evolving, but emphasizes that AI will not replace the human drive to create art.

He also notes uncertainty about AI itself while reaffirming that human creativity remains indispensable to painting and art.

The report mentions upcoming Bungie Marathon material, such as a ViDoc, as the story develops.

The controversy surrounding Marathon highlights broader debates about AI in gaming, including calls for artist involvement, fair profit-sharing, and potential taxation on displacement.

Controversy over Marathon’s authenticity fed discussions about its aesthetic, with some critiques directed at negative press more than the work itself.

The Marathon cinematic is over eight minutes long, featuring voice work by Elias Toufexis and Ben Starr, written and directed by Mielgo, and serves as a scene-setter for Bungie’s extraction shooter.

Earlier criticisms alleged Marathon used assets from an independent artist, a claim Bungie attributed to an ex-employee.

Bungie delayed Marathon into 2026 to incorporate playtest feedback, while Sony reported a $200 million impairment related to Bungie’s sales and engagement targets.

The development setback and financial concerns reflect broader challenges as Bungie navigates Marathon’s path to release.

A revised target move from September 2025 to 2026 illustrates ongoing playtesting feedback and strategic planning.