Bungie has announced a substantial reduction in force, laying off a significant number of employees, including a large portion of the Destiny 2 team and some members of the Marathon project. The news comes shortly after Destiny 2 received its final content update on June 9, and amidst a notable surge in player count for the game. PlayStation studio business group CEO Hermen Hulst confirmed that these layoffs extend across Bungie and some supporting Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) teams.
According to Bungie's statement on social media, the studio stated that it "could not continue operating at our previous size" without continued development on its live-service titles and with future projects still in early stages. The studio acknowledged that Destiny 2 had "fell short of expectations these past several years." While active development on Destiny 2 has concluded, some updates are still planned for June 30, though it is possible this hotfix may be the last patch the game ever receives.
Bungie, estimated to have around 800 employees as of April, has seen its future become increasingly uncertain. Sony, which acquired the studio for $3.6 billion two years ago, previously blamed a $565 million impairment loss on the unsuccessful development of Destiny 2 and Marathon. While Destiny 3 is not currently planned, Bungie is reportedly exploring new project concepts within the Destiny universe.
Despite the cessation of active development, Destiny 2 has experienced a recent resurgence in player interest, with approximately 100,000 active players in the weeks following its final update. Fans have noted that Bungie had smoothed out many of the game's rough edges, making activities like raids and dungeons more rewarding with better gear. Sony stated that it explored alternatives before implementing the layoffs. While the studio acknowledged the profound impact on those affected, it deemed these changes necessary for Bungie's positioning moving forward.