Destiny 2 Developer Bungie Faces Major Layoffs and Changes
Despite the success of Destiny 2’s The Final Shape expansion, Bungie has faced a challenging year. In October, the developer laid off about 100 employees, amounting to 8% of its workforce. Just recently, a shocking 220 employees, representing 17% of the workforce, were let go while 12% were relocated to parent company Sony.
Bungie’s executive Pete Parsons attributed these actions to the “rising costs of development,” “industry shifts,” and “enduring economic conditions.” The layoffs affected most executive and senior leader positions, signaling a time of significant change for the studio. The transfer of staff to Sony aims to deepen integration, a move that has raised eyebrows across the industry.
These layoffs reflect a broader trend in the industry of big corporations acquiring prominent developers, leading to shifts in staffing, priorities, and possibly identity. On our weekly show, Spot On, Tam and Lucy delve into the impact of these layoffs on Destiny 2, Marathon, and Bungie as a whole.
Spot On is GameSpot’s news show where managing editor Tamoor Hussain and senior producer Lucy James discuss the latest gaming news in-depth every Friday, focusing on specific topics instead of just recaps. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.