Modern Warships Dev Causes Actual Art Storm After Plagiarizing Ship Design
Artstorm, developer of PvP naval warfare game Modern Warships, has acknowledged using an independent artist’s work without permission. Concept artist Alex Jay Brady discovered that their original design for an atomic ekranoplan carrier vessel formed the basis for the in-game ship model RF Bartini A-2000-7, with striking visual similarities between the two versions.
Brady publicly called out the plagiarism on social media, posting side-by-side comparisons that made the similarities immediately apparent. However, Brady’s response was notably measured, suggesting they would have had no objection to Artstorm using the design had the developer requested permission and offered compensation. “Much more detailed than my sketches,” Brady commented on the in-game version, indicating the developer had significantly expanded on the original concept.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about intellectual property protection for independent artists working in game development. While Artstorm has admitted to the unauthorized use, the developer’s next steps regarding compensation or credit remain unclear from the available information.