Bungie, the developer renowned for the Destiny franchise, disclosed last week its decision to lay off 220 employees and implement organizational changes aimed at reducing costs. The studio pointed to escalating development expenses and a challenging economic landscape as key influences for this move. In light of these developments, Bungie is seeking to reassure the gaming community of its dedication to Destiny and plans to disclose future intentions for the franchise shortly.
‘Future of Destiny’
On Friday, the Destiny 2 team took to X to reaffirm Bungie’s commitment to its acclaimed online shooter. The studio pledged to continue providing regular updates to engage and inform its player base.
“We know that recent changes at Bungie have created uncertainty surrounding the future of Destiny,” the statement noted. “Rest assured we remain committed to Destiny, to supporting our community with transparency, and to delivering regular updates about the game.”
We know that recent changes at Bungie have created uncertainty surrounding the future of Destiny.
Rest assured we remain committed to Destiny, to supporting our community with transparency, and to delivering regular updates about the game.
— Destiny 2 Team (@Destiny2Team) August 8, 2024
Bungie has assured fans that the Destiny storyline is far from complete, with plans to unveil the “future of Destiny” and outline a “multi-year journey” for the franchise in the near future. The studio indicated that more details would be shared once a timeline is established.
Bungie Layoffs
This latest announcement follows significant restructuring at Bungie, which included the elimination of 220 positions—representing approximately 17 percent of its workforce. In a blog post dated July 31, CEO Pete Parsons emphasized the necessity for “substantial changes” to the company’s cost framework and a concentrated effort on developing Destiny and the upcoming Marathon game. The layoffs impacted various levels within the organization, including a substantial number of executive and senior leadership roles.
Furthermore, Parsons outlined plans for closer integration with Sony, indicating that 155 positions from Bungie would be folded into Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) over the forthcoming quarters. The two entities are also set to create a new studio under the PlayStation Studios banner, aimed at developing an unannounced action game in a new science-fantasy universe.
