Destiny 2 developer, Bungie, has announced layoffs, leading to a “sad day” for the studio, according to CEO Pete Parsons. The number of employees affected by the job cuts is currently unclear. Parsons praised the departing individuals for their significant contributions to Bungie’s games and culture, and encouraged other companies to consider hiring them. These layoffs come amid reports of a delay in the release of Destiny 2’s expansion, The Final Shape, as well as a reimagining of the classic shooter series Marathon. Bungie was acquired by Sony in 2022.
In the wake of the layoffs at Bungie, several affected employees have taken to social media to share the news and express their heartbreak and uncertainty. Community manager Liana Ruppert, who has 21 years of industry experience, mentioned her search for new opportunities. Other employees, such as social media lead Griffin Bennett, associate franchise editor Jason Guisao, and publishing producer Matthew Bianchi, also confirmed their job losses. No comment has been provided by Sony regarding these layoffs. It is worth noting that Bungie’s layoffs follow recent job cuts at other PlayStation Studios, including Media Molecule and Visual Arts Service Group.
These layoffs at Bungie reflect the broader trend of job cuts throughout the gaming industry in 2023. The industry has witnessed layoffs at prominent companies such as Epic Games, Mediatonic, Creative Assembly, Team17, Microsoft, Take-Two, Riot Games, EA, Twitch, Meta, Unity, Ubisoft, CD Projekt, Roblox, Embracer, and Amazon. The impact of these layoffs has been significant, affecting various sectors of the gaming industry.