Summary

  • Bungie is laying off around 17% of its workforce, citing rising development costs, industry shifts, and difficult economic conditions.
  • Despite the successful launch of The Final Shape for Destiny 2, 220 people are being laid off, with the studio promising to provide a generous exit package.
  • 155 members of staff are being integrated into Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Destiny series developer Bungie is laying off over 200 people, which is roughly 17% of the studio's entire workforce. Bungie CEO Pete Parsons declared this round of layoffs as "one of the most difficult changes we’ve ever had to make as a studio," as the developer evaluates its development efforts for Destiny 2 and Marathon.

The Destiny 2: The Final Shape expansion launched on June 4, and the Salvation's Edge raid was released on June 7 to mark the true end of the decade-long Light and Darkness saga. The Final Shape was generally well-received by critics and longtime Destiny 2 fans, and Bungie began to shift its focus to the game's first episode, Echoes, on June 11. Although fans criticized the delivery and pacing of the episodic story, interest in Destiny 2 appeared to be very high throughout the summer. Despite the expansion's successful launch, Bungie notes that it was not enough to pull the studio out of the red, leading to cost-cutting measures.

A Destiny 2 player customizes his Hunter class Guardian to look like Nightwing.
Destiny 2 Hunters Can Look Like Nightwing With This Loadout

A creative Destiny 2 player customizes the look of his Hunter to resemble the popular DC superhero and Batman sidekick, Nightwing.

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A statement released by CEO Pete Parsons confirmed that Bungie is laying off 220 people, including some in executive and senior leader roles. Parsons notes that rising development costs, industry shifts, and difficult economic conditions are the reasons for the round of layoffs at Bungie, citing that changes needed to be made for the future of Destiny 2 and Marathon. Those affected by the layoffs will receive a "generous exit package," including severance, bonus and health coverage. Moreover, Parsons confirms that Bungie will integrate 155 of its current roles, or roughly 12% of the studio's current workforce, into Sony Interactive Entertainment over the next few quarters. This decision will "save a great deal of talent that would otherwise have been affected by the reduction in force," implying that those 155 people would have been laid off as well if the SIE integration had not happened.

Destiny 2 Developer Bungie Is Laying Off 220 People

Further in the statement, Parsons confirms that Bungie is working with PlayStation Studios leadership to form a new studio to continue development of a new action game set in a new science-fantasy universe. Development of this new title would not have continued without direct involvement from PlayStation Studios, since Bungie stretched its resources and talent too thin with other incubation projects, Destiny 2, and Marathon. Parsons states that Bungie became "overly ambitious," leading to the studio falling into the red financially. A similarly unfortunate situation happened in October 2023, when Bungie was hit by layoffs in a Sony-led cost-cutting measure.

Bungie now has roughly 850 employees after the layoffs, and the development of Destiny 2 content and Marathon will continue. Destiny 2 Episode 2: Revenant, the game's next episode, will bring changes to the way the game's story will be told going forward, as the entire Revenant story will be available from the start of the episode.

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Destiny 2 Tag Page Cover Art

Destiny 2
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 88%
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Released
August 28, 2017
ESRB
T For TEEN for Blood, Language, and Violence
Developer(s)
Bungie
Publisher(s)
Bungie
Engine
Tiger Engine
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play
PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Dive into the world of Destiny 2 to explore the mysteries of the solar system and experience responsive first-person shooter combat. Unlock powerful elemental abilities and collect unique gear to customize your Guardian's look and playstyle. Enjoy Destiny 2’s cinematic story, challenging co-op missions, and a variety of PvP modes alone or with friends. Download for free today and write your legend in the stars.

An Immersive Story
You are a Guardian, defender of the Last City of humanity in a solar system under siege by infamous villains. Look to the stars and stand against the darkness. Your legend begins now.

Guardian Classes
Choose from the armored Titan, mystic Warlock, or swift Hunter.

Expansions
Destiny 2: Forsaken, Destiny 2: Shadowkeep, Destiny 2: Beyond Light, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, Destiny 2: Lightfall
Number of Players
1-6 (Co-Op)
Genre(s)
FPS
How Long To Beat
100+
PS Plus Availability
Essential, Extra, & Premium (The Witch Queen)