Bungie was reportedly on the brink of shutting down before its acquisition by Sony, according to former community manager Liana Ruppert. Ruppert shared this claim on X, refuting the notion that Sony's acquisition in 2022 was solely responsible for the current state of Destiny 2. She described the acquisition as an "emergency" that was necessary to prevent the studio from closing its doors, at least concerning its work on Destiny.
The developer has faced significant challenges in recent years. Multiple rounds of layoffs and strategic decisions regarding monetization and expansion release schedules have fueled speculation about Bungie's operational stability. These struggles were further highlighted earlier this year when Sony disclosed a $765 million impairment loss, citing the underperformance of its extraction shooter Marathon and ongoing performance issues with Destiny 2.
Despite these difficulties, Bungie has reiterated its commitment to Marathon, a decision that has reportedly frustrated Destiny 2 players. Some fans believe that continued investment in Destiny 2 is warranted, particularly after the Monument of Triumph update saw a significant surge in player numbers, coinciding with Marathon's dip in activity. However, Ruppert suggests that the studio's precarious situation predated Sony's involvement, indicating deeper issues within Bungie itself.
While player numbers and public perception offer some insight, the precise reasons behind Bungie's recent decisions remain known only to the studio and Sony. The full story behind Bungie's near-collapse and the subsequent acquisition may never be fully revealed.