Bungie devs “vehemently shot down" Destiny 2 subscription proposed by higher-ups, report claims

by Danny Craig  · 
Bungie devs “vehemently shot down" Destiny 2 subscription proposed by higher-ups, report claims
Sony

Amid a controversy over stolen artwork and reports of a toxic workplace, it has been claimed that Bungie executives pitched a possible subscription model for Destiny 2, which was rejected by the game's developers.

The details:

  • Earlier this month, Bungie was accused of stealing artwork from UK-based artist Fern "Antireal" Hook and using it in textures found in Marathon's Closed Alpha build. Hook's evidence revealed several instances of plagiarism, including one texture that still read "Antireal daily series." Bungie quickly issued an apology, and the studio is reportedly in "chaos" as it attempts to pick up the pieces.

  • In a new video from journalist Destin Legarie, former Bungie employees have spoken out about the company, claiming that the studio has several issues, including a "toxic work environment." The developers have blamed Bungie's management specifically, which has been described as "toxic and shut down creatives on a core level," for dismissing any ideas from those working on the games.

  • An ex-employee provided examples of questionable proposals from the studio's management, claiming that a paid subscription model for Destiny 2 was once proposed before being "vehemently shut down." It's also said that higher-ups "prioritized monetization over player experience" and were concerned about free, earnable cosmetics being too appealing to players, which could negatively impact microtransaction sales through the in-game Eververse store.

  • Bungie's future is uncertain following a series of controversies involving the theft of community artwork, mixed reactions to its releases, several rounds of layoffs, and ongoing issues with upper management.

  • It was reported in late 2023 that Bungie might lose its independence and be absorbed into PlayStation if it failed to meet financial goals. While the studio is still planning to release a full year of new Destiny 2 content and Marathon, one former employee told Legarie that a full Sony takeover is "the path forward."

More gaming news:

Latest News