Bungie layoffs hit Destiny and Marathon teams this week

For weeks, rumours swirled that Bungie was bracing for layoffs once Destiny 2‘s final expansion shipped. On Thursday, that rumour became fact.

The studio confirmed via social media that a “reduction in force” was underway as part of a wider reorganisation, though it stopped short of naming a number.

In its statement, Bungie’s management admitted that Destiny 2 “fell short of expectations these past several years.” That admission, it said, forced some hard decisions.

“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,” the studio said.

Management added that the decision carries “a profound impact” on those losing their jobs, but argued it was necessary to position the studio for the future. What that future looks like, Bungie says, will be shared later on.

Who’s affected

Sony completed its acquisition of the studio back in 2022, which explains why a memo on the cuts came from PlayStation CEO Hermen Hulst rather than Bungie’s leadership alone.

The memo, filled in a little more detail, was sent to staff. Most of the Destiny team and some people working on Marathon, Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter, are losing their roles.

The exact headcount hasn’t been confirmed. Rumours had pointed to cuts as steep as 50% of the company, though the studio hasn’t verified that figure, and until it does, the number is speculation rather than fact.

It isn’t the first time either. Bungie also cut jobs in 2023 and 2024, as Destiny 2‘s player numbers and revenue continued to slide.

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