Sony’s Bungie Layoffs Continue PlayStation Division Cuts

Destiny 2 maker Bungie is among the latest video game studios to be hit with layoffs. First reported by Bloomberg, the downsizing is part of a comprehensive restructuring across Sony Interactive Entertainment. While official numbers have yet to be available, the communications, social media, and publishing departments were hit the hardest. The latter includes the Bungie website, the official news site, and the community forums. Staffers have taken to social media to confirm that they were laid off, including growth strategy manager Alex Bujold, community manager and accessibility co-lead Liana Ruppert, franchise editor Jason Guisao, icon artist John Zelman, event manager Griffin Bennett, and publisher Matthew Bianchi.

The news follows on the heels of recent layoffs at Sony-owned studios like LittleBigPlanet developer Media Molecule and Naughty Dog, which was reportedly laying off around 25 contract developers. These job cuts are not only disruptive for affected employees, but they can also wreak havoc on the gaming community as a whole. Shacknews wishes the best of luck to all those impacted by today’s unfortunate announcement at Bungie.

Sony’s move comes as it shifts its focus away from a pure hardware sales model and towards games-as-service and other subscription-based offerings. As a result, some of the company’s lesser-known and experimental projects are likely to be scrapped or put on hold in favor of bigger, more lucrative ones. That includes an upcoming expansion for Destiny 2, The Final Shape, and a revival of Marathon, the classic first-person shooter from 1994.

It’s unclear how this will affect those working on these projects. However, the upcoming releases will likely be delayed. The Final Shape was previously slated to launch in February 2024, while Marathon is a new project that hasn’t been given an official release date.

Moreover, some employees claim to have been targeted for their work at Bungie. In one Reddit post, a community manager named dmg04 claims that harassment on Twitter and elsewhere has gone beyond rude replies and vague threats. He adds that some employees have stopped communicating with players online due to the stress.

It remains to be seen whether these cuts will impact the future of Destiny 2. Regardless, it’s clear that many people are suffering from this shift in focus on the gaming industry as a whole.

With more companies looking to cut costs by laying off employees, these changes will likely continue to happen more frequently. Hopefully, the industry can find a way to deal with these changes so employees can still enjoy the joy of creating and playing video games. In the meantime, let’s hope those affected by this tragedy find stability in their lives. We can’t imagine what it would be like to lose your career in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner.

Chelsea Bonner

Hello, my name is Chelsea Bonner, With a body of work that encompasses everything from heart-wrenching dramas to epic adventures, I have proven time to time again that I am a true literary chameleon, able to adapt any style and tone to suit any genre or subject matter. Beyond my impressive literary achievements, I am also a respected figure in the writing community, serving as a mentor and role model to aspiring writers around the world. My commitment to fostering the next generation of talent is truly inspirational, and their impact on the literary world will be felt for years to come.

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