Bungie Lays Off 220 Employees Prompting Calls For a Change in Leadership at the Studio

Bungie Lays Off 220 Employees Prompting Calls For a Change in Leadership at the Studio

As a long-time fan and supporter of Bungie, I am deeply saddened and disheartened by the recent layoffs affecting 220 employees at the studio. Having followed their work for over two decades, I have witnessed firsthand the dedication, passion, and sheer talent that these individuals bring to their craft.


In a recent blog post penned by their CEO, Pete Parsons, Destiny 2 developer Bungie has disclosed that they will be letting go of 220 employees, which represents approximately 17% of their workforce. This decision is due to increasing development costs, industry changes, and ongoing economic challenges.

At Bungie, the job reductions affect all departments, from entry-level positions up to executive and senior roles. Those who are let go will receive a substantial severance package that includes severance pay, a bonus, and healthcare coverage as parting benefits.

Parsons acknowledges that this information might be challenging to take in, particularly after the achievements we’ve made with “The Final Shape.” However, given the wider economic circumstances we’ve faced over the past year, and after exploring every possible solution for reduction, this tough choice was made to redirect our studio and business towards more achievable objectives and financially sustainable plans.

The news that Parsons has spent over $2 million on vintage cars during the past two years, with one car alone costing more than $200,000, has left Bungie’s employees feeling dismayed. This spending, as reported by Eurogamer, has fueled growing calls for a leadership change at the studio.

Parsons mentions that, following the layoffs, Bungie is expected to strengthen its ties with Sony Interactive Entertainment. Approximately 155 positions (around 12% of Bungie’s workforce) will transition into roles at SIE within the upcoming quarters. He highlights that this collaboration with Sony will help preserve a significant portion of Bungie’s talent, who might have been let go otherwise.

“Bungie is about to go through a difficult phase, and it’s crucial that we assist our team in adapting to these upcoming changes. Parsons emphasizes that this week will be particularly tough, acknowledging that the team might require time to comprehend and address this news. In the coming days and weeks, we’ll arrange meetings, town halls, group discussions, and one-on-one sessions to maintain clear and open communication.”

He asserts that the 850 team members still with Bungie will carry on developing Destiny and, concurrently, Marathon, aiming to create extraordinary adventures surpassing the anticipations of their players.

Heartbreaking indeed. Yet another instance of top-tier talent being let go in this industry. It’s disheartening that the burden of accountability often seems to fall on us, the dedicated workers, who consistently strive to serve and uplift our community.

— dmg04 (@A_dmg04) July 31, 2024

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2024-08-01 14:12

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