Bungie, the studio behind the beloved Destiny franchise, has announced a devastating round of layoffs, affecting 220 employees, or 17% of the company. This news comes hot on the heels of over 100 layoffs late last year, leaving many in the gaming community reeling. While the move has been met with sorrow, the primary sentiment is one of anger, directed primarily at Bungie's leadership, particularly CEO Pete Parsons.
The news of the layoffs has been further fuelled by reports that Parsons has spent a staggering £2.5 million on classic cars since the Sony acquisition, a fact that has sparked widespread outrage. In a message announcing the layoffs, Parsons stated that 850 people are still working on Destiny and the upcoming Marathon game, implying that the number of people working on Destiny, a live service game requiring constant updates, has been cut in half compared to just a few years ago.
The decision has been met with near-universal condemnation, with many observers questioning the necessity and morality of such drastic measures. With Bungie firing almost a quarter of its workforce within the last year, critics are calling for accountability and questioning the management decisions that have led to this situation.
Parsons himself admitted that Bungie had taken on too much, attempting to simultaneously produce a large volume of content for Destiny while developing Marathon for a 2025 release, all while overseeing various other projects. This ambition, however, seems to have been poorly planned and lacked the resources needed to support such an ambitious undertaking.
Former employees have been particularly vocal in their criticism, with ex-social media lead Griffin Bennett calling for Parsons to step down, citing poor leadership and demanding accountability. Former community manager Liana Ruppert, who has previously spoken out about mistreatment during the previous round of layoffs, has accused Parsons of being a liar and a thief. Even current community manager DMG, who recently returned to Bungie, has voiced his dismay at the situation, highlighting the loss of industry-leading talent and lack of accountability.
Adding to the frustration is the fact that these layoffs come after the release of "The Final Shape," Destiny 2's most successful expansion to date. Many believe that the decision to lay off such a large number of employees was pre-determined and that the team's hard work wouldn't have made any difference in the outcome.
The future of Bungie and its franchises remains uncertain, with a growing feeling that the studio is being steadily absorbed by Sony. Industry insider Jeff Grubb has suggested that SIE's Herman Hulst may be taking a more active role in the company, a possibility made more likely by the movement of 155 Bungie employees into Sony roles and the creation of a new Sony-owned studio.
With a significant portion of its workforce now gone, the remaining employees at Bungie face a bleak future. It is difficult to imagine the morale and motivation remaining high after experiencing such a drastic loss of colleagues, particularly after achieving their best work ever. The situation at Bungie serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of the gaming industry and the need for strong and ethical leadership.
