Bungie, the studio behind the popular *Destiny
franchise, has announced significant layoffs, impacting nearly 40% of its workforce in the past year. This news comes alongside the announcement of a new game being developed by a newly formed studio within PlayStation Studios.
In a message to employees, Bungie CEO Pete Parsons revealed that the studio had been working to integrate 155 employees into other departments within Sony Interactive Entertainment. This follows the layoff of 100 employees in October 2022, leaving Bungie with a workforce of roughly 850 employees.
Parsons attributed the layoffs to the studioâs rapid growth and over-ambitious expansion, resulting in stretched leadership resources and financial difficulties. He admitted that these challenges led to a âquality missâ with the *Destiny 2: Lightfall
expansion and a delay in the release of *Marathon*, the studioâs upcoming game.
"We were overly ambitious, our financial safety margins were subsequently exceeded, and we began running in the red,â Parsons wrote in his message.
Despite the layoffs, Bungie remains committed to its core projects. Parsons confirmed that the studio will continue to develop *Destiny 2
and *Marathon* with its remaining team, "building amazing experiences that exceed our playersâ expectations."
The newly formed studio within PlayStation Studios will focus on developing an action game set in a brand-new science-fantasy universe. This new project was initially incubated within Bungie, but its promising development warranted a dedicated team and studio environment.
While the recent layoffs are a significant setback for Bungie, the studio's commitment to its existing projects and its venture into new territories signifies a renewed focus on quality and sustainable growth.