Nexon has pledged to make changes to in-game icons in its shooter game, The First Descendant, after accusations arose of the studio plagiarizing art from Destiny 2, the 2017 FPS title from studio Bungie.
Nexon Addresses Claims of The First Descendant Plagiarizing Destiny 2
Didn't Confirm or Deny, but Destiny 2 Inspired The First Descendant
In a statement issued a few days ago to IGN, Nexon, the makers of the recently released third-person shooter, The First Descendant, said it will change in-game icons following widespread accusations emerged about the studio plagiarizing art from Destiny 2, a first-person shooter game from Bungie Inc.
In the statement, Nexon acknowledged the issue and admitted that Destiny 2 had served as an inspiration during the development process. The company promised to address the concerns and make necessary adjustments to ensure the unique identity of their game.
"The First Descendant, as a looter shooter game, was developed with a deep affection and respect for other games in the genre. Destiny 2, being a globally renowned looter shooter game, is also personally admired and respected by the team, and it has served as an inspiration during the development process," Nexon said. "We have taken the concerns raised seriously and decided to make adjustments to ensure that the imagery that may appear similar clearly reflects the unique identity of our game. We will continue to improve the game for fans of the looter shooter genre."
- images (c) Forbes
The controversy emerged when The First Descendant was found to use icons strikingly similar to those in Destiny 2, leading to widespread criticism and comparisons.
Last week Forbes writer Paul Tassi compiled and compared a series of icons from The First Descendant with similar-looking icons in Destiny 2. Tassi noted, "One would be a coincidence, maybe, but there are many, and this is without checking more than a low percentage of all the icons in the game." Further investigations by PC Gamer pointed out that the website Iconduck lists a Destiny Icon Set, which can be used for personal and commercial purposes.
However, there was no proof that Nexon had directly taken the files from the website. While Nexon's statement did not confirm nor deny any plagiarism, the studio assured that adjustments would be made in the game.
Bungie Designer Subs Nexon Amid Plagiarism Drama
Amid the accusations, a Bungie icon artist tweeted, "It feels like a great day to mention that Bungie icon artists are a super-crew of talented folks with original ideas and sharp instincts." The artist did not directly address the ongoing controversy involving The First Descendant however, and only responded to people wishing him well.
The game launched earlier this month on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, and quickly amassed a large player base. Game8 gave The First Descendant 86/100 though noted its optimization issues and other technical problems. For more on our thoughts on the game, click our review at the link below!
Source:
IGN: The First Descendant Dev Nexon Promises to Change Controversial Icons After Destiny Plagiarism Accusations
Forbes: ‘The First Descendant’ Is Using Barely-Changed ‘Destiny 2’ Icons
PC Gamer: The First Descendant contains icons from Destiny 2, and one theory about how they got there is a reminder that not everything on the internet is what it purports to be
Icon Duck Destiny Icons
