Bungie, the developer behind Destiny 2 and the upcoming Marathon, is reportedly facing massive layoffs that could reduce its workforce by at least 50% this summer, according to a French journalist. The news comes amid ongoing struggles for the studio's new extraction shooter, Marathon, which has failed to attract a significant player base.
Massive Layoffs on the Horizon
Sylvain Trinel, a journalist from French news channel BFM TV, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Bungie should expect significant layoffs this summer. In a machine-translated message, Trinel wrote: 'I’m treading carefully, but I’m hearing talk of at least 50% of the workforce affected (permanent or contract staff) following the end of Destiny 2 and the situation with Marathon.'
This follows a May report from Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, who claimed a 'significant' number of layoffs were imminent after the final update for Destiny 2, which was released on June 9. As of now, Bungie has not officially commented on any layoffs.
Workforce Numbers and Impact
In July 2024, after a previous round of layoffs, Bungie had approximately 850 employees. If the 50% figure is accurate, over 400 people could lose their jobs this year. While still a rumor, the claim aligns with Bloomberg's sources and paints a grim picture for the studio.
Destiny 2's Unexpected Resurgence
Ironically, Destiny 2 has seen a massive surge in popularity following its final update. Over the past week, the game jumped 35 places to become the third best-seller on Steam. In the last 24 hours, it reached a peak player count of 129,343 on Steam, compared to just 13,710 at the same time last month. This suggests there is still strong demand for Destiny 2, making the decision to cut off updates without a sequel seem questionable.
Marathon's Struggles
In contrast, Marathon, Bungie's extraction shooter, has a 24-hour peak of only 12,141 players on Steam. This pales in comparison to competitors like Arc Raiders, which boasts a peak of 52,340 players. Despite Bungie's commitment to Marathon for years to come, the game's lackluster performance raises questions about the studio's priorities.
Financial Troubles and Sony's Investment
Sony acquired Bungie for $3.6 billion (£2.6 billion) in 2022. However, earlier this year, Sony reported a $765 million (£570 million) impairment loss related to Bungie assets following Marathon's launch. The studio has faced repeated layoffs over recent years, and ex-staff have often cited poor management as a recurring issue.
As the situation develops, many are watching to see if Destiny 2's resurgence could alter Bungie's plans. For now, the studio appears headed for a significant downsizing that will reshape its future.
