Bungie has confirmed that it is undergoing significant workforce reductions, with a new government filing indicating at least 292 employees have been laid off. The Sony-owned studio's restructuring affects employees across various departments, including a substantial portion of the Destiny 2 team and some members of the Marathon development team.
According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filed in the state of Washington, where Bungie is headquartered, the affected employees' separation date is July 9. Recent estimates place Bungie's total headcount at approximately 800, a notable decrease from its peak of around 1,300 employees a few years ago. This suggests the studio's current staff may be fewer than 500 individuals.
PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst informed staff that the decision was made after extensive review of the studio's long-term direction, development priorities, and resource needs within Sony's broader portfolio strategy. "This is painful news, especially for talented colleagues whose roles have been eliminated," Hulst stated. He explained that multiple alternatives were explored before concluding that workforce reduction was necessary to align the studio's resources with its current priorities and long-term objectives. Reductions also extend to PlayStation Studios teams that support Bungie's operations.
The layoffs come as Bungie continues development on post-launch content for its upcoming game, Marathon, and after the conclusion of its live service for Destiny 2 earlier this month. Impacted employees have begun sharing their experiences and seeking new opportunities on social media platforms like LinkedIn and Bluesky, highlighting the challenging current job market within the gaming industry.