Sony-owned game studio faces backlash amid layoffs, CEO's extravagance
Bungie, the renowned game studio behind Destiny, has announced the layoff of 220 employees. This figure represents a significant 17% reduction in its workforce. The company's CEO, Pete Parsons, has attributed these job cuts to "financial challenges." However, his decision has ignited controversy due to reports of his extravagant spending on classic cars since Sony's acquisition of Bungie.
Bungie's restructuring plan and employee transition
The layoffs at Bungie are a result of "rising costs of development and industry shifts as well as enduring economic conditions." Now operating under Sony, the company plans to restructure its costs and focus solely on Destiny and Marathon. The layoffs will impact all levels within the company, excluding Parsons. In an attempt to mitigate job losses, Bungie intends to transition 155 employees to Sony Interactive Entertainment in the coming quarters.
Bungie's new action game and previous layoffs
A team at Bungie that is currently developing a new action game set in a science-fantasy universe, will be spun off into a separate studio within PlayStation Studios. This announcement follows a previous round of layoffs in October 2023. Despite the successful launch of Destiny 2: The Final Shape less than two months ago, employees have voiced concerns about job security and loss of independence due to financial pressures from Sony.
Employee reactions to Bungie's layoffs
The layoffs have sparked outrage among Bungie employees. Dylan Gafner, Destiny 2's global community lead, labeled the move "inexcusable," stating that it's a case of "Accountability falling upon the workers who have pushed the needle to deliver for our community time and time again." Ash Duong, a technical UX designer at Bungie, said, "This is hitting people who were told they were valued. That they were important. That they were critical to business success. But none of that mattered."
Calls for Bungie CEO's resignation intensify
Calls for Parsons's resignation have intensified following the discovery of his account on a car bidding site, 'Bring a Trailer.' He has reportedly spent $2.4 million on classic cars since September 2022, including $500,000 since the October layoffs. Amidst the backlash, Parsons briefly made his X account private but quickly reverted it to public. This revelation has added fuel to the growing discontent among Bungie employees and stakeholders over the company's recent actions.
