Bungie has confirmed layoffs as the studio “reorganizes” for its present and future following the release of the final content update for Destiny 2, titled “Monument of Triumph.” In addition to a message released by Bungie, Sony Interactive Entertainment Studio Business Group CEO Hermen Hulst also shared a memo sent to employees, which confirms layoffs across multiple teams supporting Bungie and its operations. Hulst described these layoffs as “necessary,” as most of the Destiny 2 team has been let go in this round of layoffs at Bungie.
Here’s Bungie’s statement from the official X (formerly Twitter) account:
With great sadness, we are announcing a reduction in force as we reorganize Bungie.
As the leaders of Bungie, past and present, we recognize Destiny 2 fell short of expectations these past several years. Following our final content update to Destiny 2, and with our future projects still in early incubation, we unfortunately could not continue operating at our previous size.
We know this decision has a profound impact on the people affected, their families, friends, and teammates. While these changes are necessary to best position the studio now and for the future, that does not lessen the difficulty of this moment or the impact it has on those affected.
Later, we will share more about that future with you all but today is not that day.
Today, we wish to extend our gratitude and compassion to every member of the Bungie team who has been impacted and to those who remain.
We hope you will do the same.
– Bungie
Here’s the memo shared by Hermen Hulst:
Dear Team,
Today I want to share a difficult update regarding Bungie.
We have made the decision to reduce Bungie’s workforce, affecting a significant number of employees, including most of the Destiny team and some Marathon team members. There are also reductions across SIE teams that support Bungie’s operations. Those impacted at Bungie and within SIE are being informed today.
This is painful news, especially for talented colleagues whose roles have been eliminated. This decision was made only after extensive discussion and careful consideration, and I want to provide some context on how we arrived here. Over the past several months, together with Bungie leadership, we reviewed the studio’s long-term direction, development priorities, resource needs, and role within our broader portfolio strategy. We explored multiple alternatives before concluding that a reduction was necessary to align the studio’s resources with its current priorities and long-term goals.
As Bungie recently shared in its Destiny 2 update, the studio has begun a new journey following the release of the game’s final live-service content update. What Bungie has accomplished with Destiny over the past decade has been truly remarkable. The franchise has left a lasting mark on players and the industry, and everyone who contributed to its success should be proud of what they helped create.
Marathon remains an important part of our portfolio, and we will continue to support the team as they build on the strong foundation established in Season 1 and 2, and as they work on incubation efforts for future projects. While it’s too early to discuss, we are encouraged by the creativity and opportunities that lie ahead.
Our immediate priority is supporting affected employees through this transition. We are providing transition support and, where possible, working to identify opportunities across SIE and our global network of studios.
I want to sincerely thank every affected employee for their hard work, creativity, and contributions to Bungie, SIE, and the broader gaming community.
I know today’s news is deeply difficult not only for those leaving, but for those colleagues and friends that remain. Please take the time you need to process this news and support one another.
Thank you for your resilience and continued support during this difficult time.
Hermen Hulst
CEO, Studio Business Group
Destiny 2 will remain playable just like the original Destiny, but there will be no content updates after this update, and communications from Bungie will enter a “hibernation” until the studio has more information to share about the franchise. Fans are encouraged to read up on the extensive patch notes and changelog on Bungie’s official website.
