In a recent revelation that stirred the gaming community, The First Descendant has come under scrutiny for featuring icons almost identical to those in Destiny 2. This isn't just a passing similarity; the resemblance is uncanny and extends far beyond what could be dismissed as mere coincidence. The icons in question include everything from faction logos to weapon icons, causing fans to raise eyebrows and demand explanations from developer Nexon. The situation was bizarre enough to spark curiosity: Did a major industry player like Nexon really believe they could repurpose these assets undetected?
Initially, a plausible explanation surfaced that both games use free-to-use icons from a site called Iconduck. At first glance, this seemed to make sense. Iconduck hosts a vast range of "free open source icons and illustrations"—some 274,000 of them, to be precise—which can be used for both personal and commercial purposes. However, a deeper dive revealed troubling details: Many of these icons were not originally open source but rather stolen from other companies and games. This unsettling discovery led to more questions and uncovered a bigger issue: the integrity and legality of free asset platforms like Iconduck.
One of the more glaring problems was how such stolen assets could freely circulate under a Creative Commons license. The Destiny 2 icons, for instance, including recognizable faction logos and weapon symbols, were all allegedly available for free commercial use. Compounding the issue was the fact that Iconduck's collection description dubbed these icons "a bit obscure," which seemed laughably inaccurate for a game celebrated globally and valued at $3.6 billion. It’s incredible to think that such high-profile property could be portrayed casually as free-to-use.
Adding to the troubling nature of this revelation, Iconduck didn't just stop at Destiny 2 icons. The platform also hosted various Pokémon icons, suggesting they can be used for personal and commercial projects. If it sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is. Using Pikachu for any commercial purpose without explicit permission from The Pokémon Company is a clear violation. Likewise, Bungie's policies are unambiguous: Destiny content may only be used for non-commercial endeavors. The use of these assets for profit or without authorization is strictly off-limits.
This recent incident provides a stark reminder that not everything found on the Internet is what it claims to be. Whether you’re a developer or an enthusiastic fan, caution is necessary when sourcing assets, even from platforms that present themselves as legitimate. As the legalities of copyrighted content continue to evolve, the easily overlooked legality of content can have serious consequences. The discovery that Iconduck is enabling such activities raises concerning questions about how such sites vet their content and highlights the need for developers to tread carefully. It reminds us that ethical considerations should always come first, even in the vast, chaotic expanse of the gaming world.