Modern Warships: Artstorm acknowledges using Alex Jay Brady design for RF Bartini A-2000-7
IGN says Artstorm, maker of Modern Warships, acknowledged using concept artist Alex Jay Brady’s design as the basis for RF Bartini A-2000-7.
- Brady said on X that he had not given permission for his ekranoplan design to be used, though he would have accepted paid use if asked in advance.
- Modern Warships responded on X with an apology, saying the design had been used as a reference without proper clearance and that the team would get in touch.
What happened
IGN published a report on October 5, 2026, claiming that Artstorm used Alex Jay Brady’s design for the RF Bartini A-2000-7 in Modern Warships. The report describes this as a case where an existing concept served as the basis for an in-game ship, although the full context of the original permission was not made clear.
Brady responded on X that he had not given Modern Warships permission to use his ekranoplan design. In his post, he also said he would not have objected if the studio had asked first and paid for the use. According to his response, he felt the in-game version was highly detailed, but his objection remained that he had not been approached beforehand.
The official Modern Warships account then posted an apology on X. The studio said Brady’s design had been used as a reference without the proper clearance and that it would contact him directly to make things right. Based on the sources provided, it has not been confirmed whether a license, compensation, model change, or legal action has followed.
Timeline
2014: The source material refers to Brady’s original design from 2014.
October 5, 2026: Alex Jay Brady posts on X that he did not give Modern Warships permission to use his ekranoplan design.
October 5, 2026: Brady says in the same post that paid use in advance would have been acceptable and that the in-game version is much more detailed than his sketches.
October 5, 2026: Modern Warships responds on X with an apology, saying the design was used as a reference without proper permission.
October 6, 2026: IGN publishes an article claiming Artstorm used Brady’s design as the basis for the RF Bartini A-2000-7.
Background
Modern Warships is a PvP naval warfare game from Artstorm. The dispute centers on the RF Bartini A-2000-7, an in-game ship that is linked in the available context to an ekranoplan-like concept and design elements tied to Robert Bartini’s work.
The core question is whether Brady’s design was only used as inspiration or actually used as the basis. Brady says he has project files for his original design, including deck lines, and points to differences such as the placement and number of AWACS dishes and the number of engines. However, the sources do not provide an independent legal assessment of those similarities.