On July 31, 2024, Bungie announced significant changes due to rising development costs, industry shifts, and enduring economic conditions. The studio will eliminate 220 roles, representing approximately 17% of its workforce. This reduction will affect all levels of the company, including executive and senior leader roles.
Layoffs in the gaming industry seem to be picking up speed, Bungie had previously announced layoffs of 100 folks in October of last year. And last week saw the restructuring of HumbleGames.
Bungie’s decision follows the company’s realization that it needs to refocus its development efforts entirely on its primary products, Destiny and Marathon, after exhausting all other mitigation options.
Bungie will also merge 155 roles, or roughly 12% of its workforce, into Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) over the next few quarters. This integration aims to save as much talent as possible. Additionally, a new studio will be formed within PlayStation Studios to continue the development of an incubation project set in a new science-fantasy universe.
These changes are part of Bungie’s broader strategy to manage its resources better. The company aims to address the challenges it faced due to rapid expansion and broader economic slowdowns, including a downturn in the games industry and financial issues stemming from their ambitious projects.
For more information, visit Bungie’s official website here.
