Sony Confirms 'Significant' Bungie Layoffs Including Most of Destiny Team and Some Marathon Staff, as Bungie Admits Destiny 2 'Fell Short'

Destiny developer Bungie will lose a 'significant number of employees' in a brutal round of layoffs that will include 'most of the Destiny team and some Marathon team members,' according to PlayStation CEO Hermen Hulst.

In a public blog post, Hulst described the decision as 'difficult' and 'painful,' but 'necessary to align the studio’s resources with its current priorities and long-term goals.' The news follows the recent end of new content for Destiny 2 and comes amid lackluster player numbers for the upcoming Marathon.

Hulst's statement claims that 'multiple alternatives' were explored before the layoffs were finalized, though it offers no specifics. On Bungie's Destiny franchise, Hulst calls the series 'remarkable' but simply acknowledges that Destiny 2 is no longer receiving new content, with no indication of anything else being planned. (One report claimed a Destiny 2 relaunch, rebranded as Destiny Infinity, was discussed but ultimately dismissed.)

Regarding Marathon, Hulst describes the fledgling extraction shooter as 'an important part of our portfolio,' though he suggests its team—which sounds like it will be the only team left within Bungie—will also work on other projects.

'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,' Hulst says. 'While it’s too early to discuss, we are encouraged by the creativity and opportunities that lie ahead.'

PlayStation acquired Bungie in 2022 for $3.6 billion, when Destiny 2 was still strong and Sony was betting on live-service games—a strategy it has since largely reversed. While exact numbers of affected staff have not been confirmed, Bungie employed 850 people as of 2024, many working on Destiny.

Today's layoffs will also impact a smaller number of PlayStation's own staff whose roles were linked to supporting Bungie's operations.

In its own statement, published via social media, Bungie confirmed the layoffs as part of a company reorganization.

Job losses had been reported as likely after the shock news that Bungie was effectively putting the Destiny franchise on ice after more than a decade, with no further updates or expansions planned and no imminent plan for a full Destiny 3, despite fan demands.

Bungie's full statement on the layoffs reads:

'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'

Earlier this month, a former Bungie staff member said the only way to support the studio now was to support Marathon.