When you’re launching a brand-new season for your military shooter, the last thing you want is plagiarism accusations from another gaming studio. Yet that’s exactly what happened to Delta Force on November 18, 2025, when Rust’s COO, Alistair McFarlane, publicly called out the game for allegedly stealing in-game assets from the popular survival title.
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Delta Force Explosive Evidence
The controversy erupted when McFarlane spotted a 3D model of plastic explosive in Delta Force’s new ‘Asarah’ Season trailer that looked suspiciously familiar. Taking to social media platform X, McFarlane didn’t mince words: “Hey Delta Force, thank you for being huge Rust fans. Please remove our assets. If you wanted to collab, you should have reached out.”
The accusation came with receipts. McFarlane backed up his claim by showing the asset was created fully in-house by Facepunch Studios’ lead weapon and prop artist Thomas Butters, making the similarities between the two explosives undeniable.
| Incident Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | November 18, 2025 |
| Game Accused | Delta Force (Season Asarah) |
| Asset Stolen | Plastic explosive 3D model |
| Original Creator | Thomas Butters (Rust/Facepunch Studios) |
| Resolution Time | Same day |
Swift Damage Control
To Delta Force developer Team Jade’s credit, they didn’t let this situation fester. Within hours, McFarlane updated fans that Delta Force had reached out to apologize, declaring the matter resolved. In a surprisingly cordial follow-up, the Rust COO even complimented the cinematic: “Cinematic is great though, hopefully next time we see a Rust Hazmat in their next season.”
This graceful resolution hints at potential future collaboration rather than legal warfare—a refreshing outcome in an industry where intellectual property disputes typically escalate quickly.
What This Means for Gaming
Asset theft isn’t new in game development, but public call-outs like this are increasingly common thanks to social media transparency. For developers, it’s a stark reminder that the gaming community has eagle eyes—and original artists deserve credit.
For players invested in both Rust and Delta Force, this incident ultimately ended positively. The quick apology and potential collaboration tease suggest both studios prioritize community trust over ego.
Want more esports drama and gaming controversies? Check out our coverage on recent gaming industry disputes at TechnoSports or dive into our analysis of how game developers protect intellectual property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Did Delta Force remove the stolen asset from their trailer?
As of the latest reports, the Asarah Season trailer remains available online, and Delta Force hasn’t made any public statements about editing the content. However, the matter was declared resolved by Facepunch Studios.
Q: Could there actually be a Rust x Delta Force collaboration in the future?
McFarlane’s comment about seeing “a Rust Hazmat in their next season” suggests he’s open to official collaboration, indicating both parties may explore legitimate crossover opportunities moving forward.
