Modern Warships: IGN says Artstorm used Alex Jay Brady’s design for RF Bartini A-2000-7

The disputed ship in Modern Warships is called RF Bartini A-2000-7.
Brady says he did not give permission for his ekranoplan design to be used, but he would have been open to paid use.

What happened

IGN published an article on October 5, 2026, claiming that Artstorm used Alex Jay Brady’s design for the RF Bartini A-2000-7 in Modern Warships. According to the report, the work came from an independent concept artist, and the studio allegedly acknowledged that it served as the basis for the ship. The available information does not quote Artstorm’s exact wording, only that IGN describes it as an acknowledgment.

Brady responded on X that he had not given permission for his ekranoplan design to be used. In the same post, he said he would not have objected if Modern Warships had approached him in advance and paid for the work. The comparison cited by IGN, according to Brady, centers on the strong resemblance between his original design and the in-game model. In the tweet, he also says the model is “much more detailed” than his sketches, but that does not change his point that he would have wanted to be contacted first.

Brady also pointed to several specific differences between his work and the game model. He mentioned the placement and number of AWACS dishes, as well as the number of engines. He also said he still has the project files for the original design, including the deck lines. That, he said, shows he has source material documenting his version of the design.

So the dispute comes down to two parallel claims: Brady’s assertion that his design was used without permission, and IGN’s report that Artstorm acknowledged using that design as the basis for the RF Bartini A-2000-7. The provided information does not say whether Artstorm has publicly explained why the design was used, whether the company has contacted Brady, or whether any compensation has been offered.

Timeline

October 5, 2026: Alex Jay Brady posts on X that Modern Warships did not have permission to use his ekranoplan design, though paid use would have been acceptable to him.
October 5, 2026: In the same post, Brady says he still has the project files for the original design, including the deck lines, and that the in-game version closely resembles his work.
October 5, 2026: IGN reports that Artstorm acknowledged using Brady’s design as the basis for the RF Bartini A-2000-7.
October 5, 2026: Brady points out differences between his design and the game model, including the placement and number of AWACS dishes and the number of engines.
October 6, 2026: The issue continues to circulate as a plagiarism controversy involving Modern Warships and Artstorm.

Background

Modern Warships is a PvP naval warfare game from Artstorm in which players battle with modern warships and other maritime vehicles. In this case, the discussion centers on one specific ship: the RF Bartini A-2000-7. Based on the available context, the ship is a modern version of a strategic ekranoplan and aircraft-carrier concept, drawing on solutions from designer Robert Bartini from 1970. The wiki description also says the ship is designed to rapidly deploy an air wing to a target area and serves AWACS functions for the formation.

The supplied information does not make clear what exact wording Artstorm used in its acknowledgment. It also does not say whether the company will adjust the ship or compensate Brady. What is clear is that the dispute is not just about inspiration, but about whether an existing design was used as a basis without prior permission. Brady’s own response on X includes a retrospective offer: if he had been asked in advance and paid, he says he would not have objected.

Based on the available text, no court or regulator has been shown to have formally ruled the similarities as plagiarism. The source material is limited to IGN’s reporting, Brady’s response on X, and the ship description in the Modern Warships wiki. As a result, the legal status of the issue remains unresolved in the provided material, even though the public controversy around the design is clear.

Sources

IGN: report on the alleged use of Brady’s ship design for Modern Warships
X/Twitter: Alex Jay Brady’s response on October 5, 2026