Based on information from anonymous current and former employees, an IGN report highlights the studio’s current state of anxiety and internal divisions, shedding light on the potential consequences of financial underperformance. The sources suggest that Bungie’s status as a fully independent subsidiary of Sony depends on meeting specific financial goals. If these goals are not achieved, Sony has the authority to dissolve the board and assume complete control.
The delay of The Final Shape until Bungie’s next fiscal year, coupled with ongoing expenses related to the Marathon reboot scheduled for 2025, has raised employee concerns about the possibility of a Sony takeover and subsequent job cuts.
The report indicates that Bungie implemented layoffs in November, prompted by the potential threat of a Sony takeover. The company has reportedly imposed a studio-wide hiring freeze, reduced travel budgets, eliminated holiday bonuses, and paused or terminated benefits to meet market rates and employee donation matching. The atmosphere within Bungie is described as “soul-crushing.”
Key figures within Bungie, including the general counsel and the heads of diversity, equity, and inclusion clubs, were among those laid off. The report also suggests a shift towards outsourcing more development, mainly in-house QA testing. Over 10% of the internal QA department was reportedly laid off or fired between early October and November. The QA department is said to face increasing workloads, responsibilities, and growing hostility from team and company leadership.
Employees have expressed dissatisfaction with the leadership’s handling of the situation, citing discouragement of discussions about the layoffs. Suggestions like taking salary cuts to save jobs were reportedly dismissed, with employees being told that Bungie was “not that type of company.”
Sony acquired Bungie in January 2022 for $3.6 billion, emphasizing Bungie’s independence in publishing and creative development. The recent developments raise concerns about the studio’s future if The Final Shape fails to meet expectations.
