Bungie Announces Layoffs for Destiny 2, Confirming The Rumours
After Bungie announced that the Monument of Triumph would be the last significant update to Destiny 2, rumours circulated. Many heard that there would be layoffs for many developers working on the game. No official word came from Bungie until today. Earlier, Bungie posted on social media that there are layoffs. Today is the day that everyone in the Destiny 2 community feared.
Bungie’s Social Media Statement
Moments ago, the Bungie X account posted its statement regarding the layoffs. The statement reads as follows:
“With great sadness, we are announcing a reduction in force as we reorganise Bungie.
As the leaders of Bungie, past and present, we recognise 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.”
There is no mention of the size or the extent of the layoffs. However, given that Destiny 2 is shutting down, a large portion of the team will be affected by the layoffs.
The Community Extends Its Gratitude
Minutes after the official announcement, many members of the community, both content creators and players, posted their gratitude to the developers. In less than an hour, the X post has over 1k comments, 1.3k reposts, and 5.8 likes. As I am writing this article, the number of interactions with the post continues to climb. To those of you reading this, send your gratitude to the developers who have made Destiny 2 what it is today.
Bungie Mentions the Future
In the statement, Bungie alluded to the future and its current incubated projects. Little is known of what is to come from Bungie. At the current moment, Destiny 3 is nowhere on the horizon. Most reports have stated that Destiny 3 is not even a consideration. If that is the case, even if Sony greenlights Destiny 3, the community will have to wait at least five to seven years for the game’s release. We might not hear from Bungie for a while, or we may hear from them in the coming weeks. Either way, we will be here, waiting, hoping for Destiny 3.
Sony’s CEO Confirms the Layoffs to Destiny 2 and Marathon Developers
In a statement, shortly after Bungie announced layoffs, the Sony CEO, Hermen Hulst, had this to say:
“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. “
My Thank You to the Developers
To all the Destiny 2 developers, past and present, thank you for all the work you have done for this game. While I was not there from the very beginning, I got to enjoy a good portion of the game. I never thought I would ever have a game that would take up so much of my time, but Destiny 2 did. I will continue to play, write, and enjoy every aspect of Destiny 2.
I might be a small fish in a large pond, but I know this game has changed my life forever. I am probably not alone in this feeling. Good luck with your future endeavors, and I hope you all come out of this in the best way possible.
Related Destiny 2 Content
With the Monument of Triumph update launch, be prepared for more articles on Destiny 2. Below are previous articles we have on Destiny 2.
