Sci-Fi Author Files Lawsuit Against Bungie

A science fiction author based in the United States has filed suit against Destiny 2 developer Bungie, claiming copyright infringement against the studio. The suit claims that Bungie copied elements of the author’s story for the narrative of Destiny 2.

Just fresh off a celebration of the 10th anniversary of Destiny, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Bungie has created something of an institution in live-service games. Millions of Destiny and Destiny 2 players have gotten familiar with Bungie’s signature shooter gameplay, and with the unique world the studio has established. It’s one where Bungie employed a blending of military sci-fi with high-concept fantasy, as immortal Guardians armed with the powers of Light and Darkness wield mystical firearms of all sorts against the enemies of humanity and its allies.

That legacy might be called into question, based on a lawsuit filed by Louisiana-based author Kelsey Martineau. According to a report in The Game Post, Martineau filed suit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on October 2, 2024. The lawsuit alleges that Bungie directly copied elements from Martineau’s work for use in the Red War storyline of Destiny 2. The Red War is the base storyline of Destiny 2 and was accessible in the game from its launch in 2017 until its sunsetting in 2020. The Red War content is currently stored inside the controversial Destiny Content Vault.

Sci-Fi Author Claims Destiny 2 Copied The Red War

According to the lawsuit, Bungie committed copyright infringement by taking various key elements of the Destiny 2 Red War campaign from a story Martineau wrote under the pen name Caspar Cole in 2013 and 2014, and published on a WordPress.com blog. The main point of the lawsuit claims that both Martineau’s story and Destiny 2 feature a faction called the Red Legion as the main antagonists in the story. In Destiny 2, the Red Legion are a faction of the warlike Cabal species led by the villain Dominus Ghaul, who wishes to capture the Traveler, the massive entity that floats over the Last City. In Martineau’s story, the Red Legion is an alien army led by Overlord Yinnerah, a warlord that seeks to conquer Earth and claim Tononob Station, a massive floating habitat in low orbit.

Though the Red Legion sits at the center of the suit, the full complaint also raises a number of other similarities between Destiny 2 and Martineau’s story. These include the motivations and backstories of the characters Yinnerah and Dominus Ghaul, Destiny 2 Cabal enemies that wield flamers, War Beasts, the character of Failsafe, and even later-game revelations about the nature of the Exo race. Should the lawsuit meet with success, Martineau will seek damages and injunctive relief, the latter of which could potentially force Bungie to remove infringing content from Destiny 2 or curtail future plans for the game if they involved infringing elements. At the time of writing, Bungie has not yet responded to the lawsuit.

Dive into the world of Destiny 2 to explore the mysteries of the solar system and experience responsive first-person shooter combat. Unlock powerful elemental abilities and collect unique gear to customize your Guardian’s look and playstyle. Enjoy Destiny 2’s cinematic story, challenging co-op missions, and a variety of PvP modes alone or with friends. Download for free today and write your legend in the stars.

An Immersive Story
You are a Guardian, defender of the Last City of humanity in a solar system under siege by infamous villains. Look to the stars and stand against the darkness. Your legend begins now.

Guardian Classes
Choose from the armored Titan, mystic Warlock, or swift Hunter.

Franchise

Destiny

Released

August 28, 2017

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer , Online Co-Op

Engine

Tiger Engine

ESRB

T For TEEN for Blood, Language, and Violence

How Long To Beat

100+

Steam Deck Compatibility

no

X|S Optimized

YES

PS Plus Availability

Essential, Extra, & Premium (The Witch Queen)

Expansions

Destiny 2: Forsaken , Destiny 2: Shadowkeep , Destiny 2: Beyond Light , Destiny 2: The Witch Queen , Destiny 2: Lightfall

Number of Players

1-6 (Co-Op)

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Cross Save

yes

Cross-Platform Play

PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S

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