Bungie hit with layoffs, with Destiny 2 DLC and Marathon reportedly delayed
Bungie, the developer of Destiny, has confirmed that it is the latest studio to be affected by layoffs, affecting staff across various departments and delaying upcoming projects.
The details:
Bungie has made significant job cuts, as first reported by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, affecting employees across the studio, including those working in its art, community management, and audio departments. Respected Destiny team members affected include Community Manager and Co-Lead of Accessibility Liana Ruppert, Social Media Lead Griffin Bennett, and soundtrack composer Michael Salvatori.
Bungie CEO Pete Parsons addressed the layoffs publicly on X, thanking those let go for their contributions to the company, but did not reveal how many people were affected. “Today is a sad day at Bungie as we say goodbye to colleagues who have all made a significant impact on our studio,” Parsons said. “What these exceptional individuals have contributed to our games and Bungie culture has been enormous and will continue to be a part of Bungie long into the future.”
The cuts come alongside reports that Destiny 2's next expansion, The Final Shape, has been delayed from February 2024 to June 2024. Marathon, the studio's reboot of an extraction shooter, is also said to have been pushed back to 2025, implying that a 2024 release was planned internally.
The developer was acquired by Sony for $3.6 billion in 2022 as the company began expanding its live service plans, with Bungie being used to help vet projects such as Naughty Dog's The Last of Us multiplayer spin-off, which is still said to be in rough shape. Last month, Naughty Dog reportedly experienced a wave of layoffs, with contract workers having their contracts terminated while being advised not to speak publicly about the situation.
More gaming news:
Microsoft will begin prohibiting the use of "unauthorized accessories" on Xbox consoles. This will prevent players from using devices that support mouse and keyboard controls without native support, as well as unofficial fighting sticks.
Square Enix has released a new trailer for its mobile spin-off, Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link. The game will be released in 2024, with a closed beta coming to iOS next month and an Android test following in January.
