What's Next For Bungie? | Spot On

As a seasoned gamer with decades worth of experience under my belt, I’ve seen studios rise and fall like the tides. The recent turn of events at Bungie, however, has left me more than just a little concerned. The layoffs, the transfers, the shifting winds – it all feels like the Destiny universe itself is going through a Darkness-level event.


Despite receiving high praise for their critically acclaimed expansion, Destiny 2’s The Final Shape, it’s been a challenging year for Bungie. Back in October, they had to let go of around 100 employees, which accounted for about 8% of their workforce. Earlier this week, the studio announced that another 220 people were being laid off, representing a surprising 17% of its workforce. Additionally, 12% of the remaining staff were moved to Bungie’s parent company, Sony.

According to Pete Parson, Bungie’s executive, the high expenses in development, changes within the gaming industry, and persistent economic conditions led to widespread layoffs, primarily affecting top-tier management positions at the studio. Given this leadership void, it’s not surprising that the company is entering a period of “significant transformation.” Parsons also mentioned that a large number of former Bungie employees are being transferred to Sony, a move designed to strengthen Bungie’s ties with the corporation, which has sparked curiosity among many.

While these layoffs might appear as just another instance of widespread job cuts in the industry, they also underscore the pattern of large corporations buying established developers, which can result in shifts in workforce, priorities, and even the company’s identity. This week on Spot On, Tam and Lucy delve into the implications of these job losses for Destiny 2, Marathon, and Bungie as a whole.

In simple terms, every week, the news program called “Spot On” by TopMob is hosted by Tamoor Hussain (managing editor) and Lucy James (senior producer). This show discusses the latest updates in the ever-evolving video game industry. Unlike other news programs that cover numerous topics, Spot On focuses on a single topic extensively. You can catch this in-depth discussion every Friday.

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2024-08-03 01:08