Bungie Has Suffered Significant Layoffs After Ceasing Development On Destiny 2

Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bungie have jointly announced a sweeping reduction in staff, with the Destiny division bearing the brunt of the cuts.

Bungie took to X with a somber note, confirming a “reduction in force” that will result in many employees losing their positions.

The statement acknowledged the steady decline in Destiny 2’s performance, admitting that the title had not met expectations over recent years. With the final content update now complete and future projects still in early development, the company could no longer justify maintaining its previous operational scale.

While the initial announcement was largely generic, CEO Herman Hulst’s follow‑up on the SIE website added clarity. He confirmed that the layoffs would affect a substantial portion of the Destiny team, select members of the Marathon squad, and several SIE support staff who assist Bungie’s operations.

The reality of the decision is stark: seeing most of the Destiny team depart with boxes in hand underscores the gravity of the situation. The mention of Marathon staff hints at SIE’s assessment of the live‑service shooter’s reception, which struggled to cultivate a healthy player base months after launch. Exact numbers remain undisclosed, but the scale of the workforce reduction is unmistakably significant.

Four years have passed since Sony paid a staggering $5 billion to acquire Bungie. Even without dissecting Sony’s quarterly financials, it is clear that the deal has not delivered the returns the company envisioned. The purchase was made at a time when Sony was aggressively chasing live‑service games, a strategy that ultimately collapsed, highlighted by the shuttering of Firewalk Studios and its hero shooter Concord. Bungie’s future remains uncertain, particularly as Marathon struggles to establish itself in a crowded market. For now, we hold our breath, hoping that one of the studio’s incubated projects can salvage the situation—and that Bungie remains part of Sony long enough for that to happen.

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Adam’s devotion to PlayStation rivals his fascination with vacuum cleaners. Whether he’s wielding a Dyson or a DualShock, his enthusiasm is unmistakable. Connect with him on PSN as TheVacuumVandal, on Xbox Live as VacuumVandal, or on Steam as TheVacuumVandal.