The future of Destiny 2 developer, Bungie, hangs in the balance as multiple anonymous current and former employees reveal that the studio’s fate may lie in the success of their forthcoming expansion, The Final Shape. According to these sources, Bungie is at risk of a full Sony takeover if the expansion fails to meet sales expectations. This news comes in the wake of significant layoffs that occurred in November, leaving the studio grappling with financial obligations as a subsidiary of Sony.
An in-depth report by IGN sheds light on the rising tensions and divisions within Bungie. While the company is currently an independent subsidiary of Sony, the board of directors consists of representatives from both Bungie and Sony. This split structure grants Bungie more control over the studio’s direction through tiebreaker votes by CEO Pete Parsons. However, these privileges are contingent on Bungie meeting specific financial goals.
Should Bungie fall short of these goals, Sony is granted the authority to dissolve the board and assume full control. With the delay of The Final Shape and the ongoing expenses of the Marathon reboot scheduled for 2025, employees fear that this outcome may become a reality, resulting in further job losses.
The anxiety within Bungie has led to Chief People Officer Holly Barbacovi referring to the layoffs as a lever the company could pull again. November’s layoffs, which were prompted by the possibility of a Sony takeover, have already taken a toll on morale. The studio has implemented measures such as a studio-wide hiring freeze, reduced travel budgets, and the elimination of holiday bonuses and benefits.
Bungie has paused or ended employee compensation adjustments, employee donation matching, and is offering only the minimum required studio performance bonuses this year. These cost-cutting measures have left employees feeling demoralized, with one source describing the atmosphere as “soul-crushing.”
The November layoffs saw the departure of respected individuals who had spearheaded various community initiatives within Bungie. Among those who left were Bungie’s general counsel, Don McGowan, and the heads of diversity, equity, and inclusion clubs, Pride@Bungie, Women@Bungie, and Accessibility@Bungie. This loss of experienced figures has further strained the morale within the studio.
Sources indicate that Bungie may be moving towards outsourcing more of their development. Discussions overheard within teams before and after the layoffs suggest that the company is attempting to shift away from in-house QA testing. Over 10% of the internal QA department was laid off or fired between October and November, resulting in increased workloads and responsibilities for those who remain.
The QA department has also faced growing hostility from team and company leadership, with reports of them being referred to as “non-developers.” These developments raise concerns about the quality of future releases and the impact on employee well-being.
According to IGN’s sources, Bungie leadership is discouraging staff from discussing the layoffs and pushing back on suggestions from within the company. During a Q&A session following the November departures, a department head dismissed the idea of company leaders taking salary cuts to save jobs, stating that Bungie was “not that type of company.”
In January 2022, Sony acquired Bungie for a staggering $3.6 billion, with promises of preserving Bungie’s independence and creative control. CEO Pete Parsons assured fans that the acquisition would mainly lead to an acceleration in hiring talented individuals to support the studio’s vision. However, the current state of affairs paints a different picture, leaving both employees and fans concerned about the future of Bungie and the Destiny franchise.
As Bungie prepares for the release of The Final Shape, the studio finds itself at a crossroads. The success or failure of this expansion could determine whether Bungie remains an independent subsidiary or falls under full Sony control. With financial struggles, key departures, and growing divisions within the company, the road ahead is uncertain. Only time will tell if Bungie can overcome these challenges and steer their destiny towards brighter horizons.
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