The gaming community is roaring for a revival of the Destiny franchise, and their voices were deafening during Sony’s recent State of Play livestream. While Bungie has seemingly shifted its focus towards the struggling extraction shooter Marathon, the lack of progress on that title has only amplified the desire for a true successor to Destiny 2. But will Sony greenlight a new Destiny game, given the financial risks involved in such a massive undertaking?
The Road Not Taken: Destiny Infinity and Beyond
Despite the current focus on Marathon, whispers persist about a potential return to the Destiny universe. The idea of “Destiny Infinity,” a relaunch alongside a return to the one big expansion model, was reportedly considered but ultimately shelved due to concerns over cost and risk. While Bungie has explored various scenarios for the future of Destiny 2, including a full-fledged Destiny 3, the financial realities have proven challenging.
According to reports, Bungie began discussing different paths forward after December’s Renegades expansion “did even worse [than Edge of Fate]” and failed to improve sales or player retention. This led to a reevaluation of the franchise’s direction, ultimately leading to the decision to prioritize Marathon. However, the game’s underperformance has only fueled the demand for a return to the familiar world of Destiny.
A Rocky Past: Bungie, Activision, and Sony
Destiny 2 originally launched on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in September 2017, with a PC version following shortly after. However, behind the scenes, tensions were brewing between Bungie and its publisher, Activision. This ultimately led to their official split in January 2019, ending a decade-long partnership years ahead of schedule.
With Destiny firmly in its own hands, Bungie embarked on a path of self-publishing. However, the studio faced financial headwinds as subsequent expansions failed to resonate with players and the player base dwindled. The launch of Marathon in early March, reportedly backed by a staggering $250 million budget, further complicated matters. Analysts have indicated that Marathon has also fallen short of sales expectations.
Bungie’s financial struggles predate Sony’s acquisition of the studio for $3.6 billion in 2022. In fact, Bungie was reportedly on the brink of closure before the deal went through. More recently, Sony recently reported a $765 million impairment loss”>reported a $765 million impairment loss specifically related to the underperformance of Bungie.
Layoffs and Restructuring at Bungie
The decision to end active development on Destiny 2 resulted in significant layoffs at Bungie. A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice, reported by Game File”>Game File, revealed that 292 staff members in Bungie’s Bellevue, Washington office were let go. While the exact number of remaining employees is unknown, it’s clear that the studio has undergone a period of significant restructuring.
This was Bungie’s third round of layoffs in just three years. According to The Seattle Times”>The Seattle Times, Bungie once employed 1,000 people in Bellevue. Between October 2023 and July 2024, the studio has laid off approximately 320 employees. Local media outlets described the cuts as a “bloodbath.”
Local press called the cuts a “bloodbath.””>Local press called the cuts a “bloodbath.”
While the future of Bungie and the Destiny franchise remains uncertain, one thing is clear: the gaming community’s passion for Destiny burns bright. Whether Sony will heed their calls and greenlight a new chapter in the saga remains to be seen.
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