Bungie, in conjunction with Sony Interactive Entertainment, has announced another round of employee layoffs. The studio stated these cuts represent a "reduction in force as we reorganise," impacting many developers who worked on Destiny 2, as well as some staff involved with the upcoming Marathon project and Sony Interactive Entertainment support personnel.
In a statement released via social media, Bungie acknowledged that Destiny 2 did not meet expectations in recent years. Following the game's final content update, and with new projects still in early development stages, the company determined it could no longer sustain its previous operational size. The full extent of the layoffs and the company's long-term outlook remain unclear at this time.
Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Herman Hurst indicated that the decision followed extensive discussion and careful consideration. Despite the impact on developers, Hurst affirmed that Marathon remains an important part of the company's portfolio. This news follows a pattern of workforce reductions at Bungie over the past few years. In mid-2024, approximately 17 percent of the workforce, totaling 220 employees, were laid off. This followed an earlier layoff of about 100 employees a year prior, and additional cuts that, over a nine-month period, reduced the company's total workforce by roughly a quarter.
Destiny 2 recently received its final update, a significant content release that served as a farewell to the game. This update showed the resolution for many characters' storylines and teased future plot developments, which led to a notable surge in returning players eager to experience the game's conclusion. The future direction for Bungie is currently unspecified, though Marathon is continuing with its development cycle.