Bungie has announced that it will be making layoffs as the studio looks toward a future without its long-running shooter franchise, Destiny.
“With great sadness, we are announcing a reduction in force as we reorganize Bungie,” a statement from the developer reads.
“As the leaders of Bungie, past and present, we recognize Destiny 2 fell short of expectations these past several years. Following our final content update to Destiny 2, and with our future projects still in early incubation, we unfortunately could not continue operating at our previous size.”
The statement continues: “We know this decision has a profound impact on the people affected, their families, friends, and teammates. While these changes are necessary to best position the studio now and for the future, that does not lessen the difficulty of this moment or the impact it has on those affected.”
“Later, we will share more about that future with you all but today is not that day.”
“Today, we wish to extend our gratitude and compassion to every member of the Bungie team who has been impacted and to those who remain.
“We hope you will do the same.”
PlayStation boss Herman Hulst informed SIE staff of the layoffs via an internal email earlier today, which was later published by Sony.
“Today I want to share a difficult update regarding Bungie,” Hulst’s email reads.
“We have made the decision to reduce Bungie’s workforce, affecting a significant number of employees, including most of the Destiny team and some Marathon team members. There are also reductions across SIE teams that support Bungie’s operations. Those impacted at Bungie and within SIE are being informed today.
“This is painful news, especially for talented colleagues whose roles have been eliminated. This decision was made only after extensive discussion and careful consideration, and I want to provide some context on how we arrived here.
“Over the past several months, together with Bungie leadership, we reviewed the studio’s long-term direction, development priorities, resource needs, and role within our broader portfolio strategy. We explored multiple alternatives before concluding that a reduction was necessary to align the studio’s resources with its current priorities and long-term goals.
“As Bungie recently shared in its Destiny 2 update, the studio has begun a new journey following the release of the game’s final live-service content update.
“What Bungie has accomplished with Destiny over the past decade has been truly remarkable. The franchise has left a lasting mark on players and the industry, and everyone who contributed to its success should be proud of what they helped create.
“Marathon remains an important part of our portfolio, and we will continue to support the team as they build on the strong foundation established in Season 1 and 2, and as they work on incubation efforts for future projects. While it’s too early to discuss, we are encouraged by the creativity and opportunities that lie ahead.
“Our immediate priority is supporting affected employees through this transition. We are providing transition support and, where possible, working to identify opportunities across SIE and our global network of studios.
“I want to sincerely thank every affected employee for their hard work, creativity, and contributions to Bungie, SIE, and the broader gaming community.
“I know today’s news is deeply difficult not only for those leaving, but for those colleagues and friends that remain. Please take the time you need to process this news and support one another.
“Thank you for your resilience and continued support during this difficult time.”
Last month, a report from Bloomberg claimed that the studio would be downsizing following the release of Destiny 2’s final content update: Monument of Triumph.
It was also revealed that the Destiny 2 development team had no new projects after Monument of Triumph’s release and had no plans to start development on Destiny 3.
Today’s announcement is the third occasion on which Bungie has made layoffs since being acquired by Sony in 2022.
In 2023, Bungie leadership reported that the studio’s revenue was running 45% below projections, triggering a series of cost-cutting measures that saw 100 staff members lose their jobs.
Further layoffs took place in 2024, as Bungie announced roughly 17% of staff would be laid off due to “rising costs of development and industry shifts”.