{"id":2012148,"date":"2026-06-26T09:19:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T06:19:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2012148"},"modified":"2026-06-26T09:19:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T06:19:56","slug":"true-scale-of-bungie-layoffs-revealed-with-nearly-300-cut-from-its-bellevue-washington-headquarters-alone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2012148","title":{"rendered":"True Scale of Bungie Layoffs Revealed, With Nearly 300 Cut From Its Bellevue, Washington Headquarters Alone"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-cy=\"article-content\" class=\"jsx-2870106660 article-content page-0\">\n<section data-cy=\"article-subtitle\" class=\"article jsx-3932497636 article-section jsx-862658659 news\" data-autopogo=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The layoffs <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/bungie-announces-layoffs-as-it-admits-destiny-2-fell-short-of-expectations\">Bungie announced yesterday<\/a> hit nearly 300 staff who worked at the developer\u2019s Bellevue, Washington office, official records have revealed.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice issued by Sony to the Washington State Employment Security Department, reported by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gamefile.news\/p\/console-price-hike-chart-bungie-cuts-video?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email#media-b9bb73af-3cbb-438b-b711-e35fa65dcc79\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Game File<\/a>, reveals 292 staff have been let go with a formal separation date set for July 9. This number does not account for Bungie staff outside Washington state. It is unknown how many staff remain at Bungie following the cuts, although the studio was reported to have employed 850 staff as of 2024.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">It is Bungie&#8217;s third round of layoffs in three years. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/business\/local-business\/layoffs-hit-bellevue-based-video-game-studio-behind-destiny-franchise\/\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Seattle Times<\/a>, Bungie once had 1,000 employees in Bellevue, according to a 2023 annual financial report from the city. Between October 2023 and July 2024, Bungie laid off around 320 staff. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox13seattle.com\/news\/sony-cuts-bungie-jobs\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Local press have called the cuts a &#8220;bloodbath.&#8221;<\/a> <\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" style=\"display:none\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">Every Bungie Game Ever Reviewed by IGN<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reviewed by Doug Perry, February 1, 2001 &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; While I wouldn&apos;t go so far as to say that Oni is a giant hit -- it&apos;s not -- Oni is a good game that action fans, and perhaps easy-going anime fans (or is there such a thing?), might want to pick up.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 19 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reviewed by Aaron Boulding, November 9, 2001 &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; Is playing Halo worth the $350 it will cost for an Xbox and a game? If you can appreciate videogames and have been waiting for the next step, then the answer is absolutely. If you&apos;re a casual fan and don&apos;t buy more than a handful of games a year, then you still need to get Halo. It&apos;s a can&apos;t miss, no-brainer, sure thing, five star, triple A game. Microsoft created the Xbox so we could have games like Halo. Don&apos;t miss it.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reviewed by Douglass Perry, November 9, 2004 &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; Genuinely great games don&apos;t come around that often, but in 2004 we&apos;re seeing a few truly remarkable achievements come to the forefront. Halo 2 is one of them. While you can minimize the game to its basics -- it&apos;s a linear first-person shooter, it doesn&apos;t have online cooperative play, some of the cutscenes look awkward -- the level of improvement in every aspect to an already near-perfect game is staggering.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reviewed by Hillary Goldstein, September 25, 2007 &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; The campaign, which is very good, is Halo 3&apos;s weakest point. It doesn&apos;t capture the cavalier spirit of the original Halo, but you&apos;ll still have fun playing through it. There&apos;s no first-person shooter on 360 that can equal Halo 3&apos;s blend of cinematic action, adrenaline-pumping shootouts, and male- (and female)-bonding gameplay.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reviewed by Erik Brudvig, September 19, 2009 &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; Halo 3: ODST isn&apos;t a true sequel, but it is more than a standard expansion. If you&apos;re on the fence about buying it, drop your reservations and go snag a copy. If you love Halo, you owe it to yourself to pick this up as soon as you can.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In its statement yesterday, Hermen Hulst, CEO, Studio Business Group, Sony Interactive Entertainment, spoke about the layoffs in general terms, only saying a \u201csignificant\u201d number of employees had been affected, hitting &#8220;most of the Destiny team and some Marathon team members.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Hulst described the decision as &#8220;difficult&#8221; and &#8220;painful,&#8221; but &#8220;necessary to align the studio\u2019s resources with its current priorities and long-term goals.&#8221; The news follows the recent ending of new content for Destiny 2, and the release of hardcore extraction shooter Marathon, which has struggled for players. Sony has insisted it remains committed to Marathon, whose team is also said to be working on \u201cincubation efforts for future projects.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The WARN notice redacts individual names, but includes job titles. It reveals staff across all departments were hit, including artists and technical animators, audio leads and sound designers, engineers, producers, and systems designers, and integrated Sony support teams that manage day-to-day Bungie infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">A number of former Bungie staff have taken to social media to confirm they were hit by the layoffs. Some are Bungie veterans of over a decade. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/jasonschreier.bsky.social\/post\/3mp4stadbc22h\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">said<\/a> Bungie studio head Justin Truman, who succeeded Pete Parsons last year, had stepped down. <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/PaulTassi\/status\/2070205617705210330\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">According to Forbes reporter Paul Tassi<\/a>, former Bungie VP of Operations, Poria Torkan, has reportedly taken charge of the studio.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Social media users have also <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/HarkSilverthane\/status\/2070276643361529935\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">picked up on the mention of \u201cChief Vision Officer\u201d in the WARN notice<\/a>. Some are speculating that this is Bungie co-founder and Halo and Destiny creator Jason Jones, who maintains a low profile and rarely speaks to the press. Jones appeared in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/ktTfzug0Qbc?si=ztCr_5BGlnKcTly3\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">an official Destiny 2 video<\/a> released in 2021 in which he was described as Chief Vision Officer. If Jones has left Bungie \u2014 and this remains unconfirmed for now \u2014 it would represent a true end of an era for the studio behind some of the most iconic first-person shooters ever released.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-313219616\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/06\/26\/screenshot-2026-06-26-095714-1782464243997.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"null\" class=\"progressive-image article-image article-image-full-size jsx-1809694635 jsx-2338608387\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/a><figcaption data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 jsx-479945570 article-image-caption\">A rare public appearance from Bungie co-founder Jason Jones. Image credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/ktTfzug0Qbc?si=ztCr_5BGlnKcTly3\">Destiny 2 \/ YouTube<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Bungie has struggled financially for some time, and reportedly was on the brink of closure before Sony bought the studio back in 2022 for $3.6 billion. Sony <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/sony-reports-765-million-impairment-loss-due-to-underperformance-of-marathon-developer-bungie\"><u>recently reported a $765 million impairment loss<\/u><\/a> due to underperformance of Bungie specifically.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Bungie&#8217;s issues with <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/destiny-2\"><u>Destiny 2<\/u><\/a> reportedly began around the time of last summer&#8217;s Edge of Fate expansion, which was said to have underperformed. The decision to pull the plug was allegedly made &#8220;earlier this year&#8221; after it was decided not to relaunch the franchise as &#8220;Destiny Infinity.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/paultassi\/2026\/05\/28\/new-info-on-destiny-2-alarm-bells-marathons-role-and-destiny-infinity-pitch\/\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>Forbes<\/u><\/a> reported that Bungie began discussing different scenarios about &#8220;what the future of Destiny 2 would look like&#8221; after December&#8217;s Renegades, its Star Wars-themed crossover expansion, &#8220;did even worse [than Edge of Fate] and didn&#8217;t change sales or retention trajectory.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Destiny Infinity would have been a relaunch alongside a return to the one big expansion model Destiny used to have, but the idea fell by the wayside after it was allegedly decided that the costs and risks were too high, especially in the context of support for Marathon.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Destiny 3 &#8220;was considered, as ever, but things didn&#8217;t swing that way,&#8221; and there has been no behind-the-scenes hints that a third Destiny game is coming, with the cost of the game&#8217;s production cited as the key issue.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Destiny 2 launched on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on September 6, 2017, with a PC version following a month later. Behind the scenes, however, tension between Bungie and Activision emerged, and the two companies officially parted ways in January 2019, ending their 10-year publishing deal five years early. <\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">With Destiny in its own hands, Bungie self-published the game, but it couldn&#8217;t escape financial troubles and layoffs as Destiny 2 expansions failed to hit the mark and the player base dwindled. Extraction shooter Marathon launched early March, with a reported budget of more than $250 million. It too, according to analysts, has failed to meet sales expectations.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Photographer: Troy Harvey\/Bloomberg via Getty Images.<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-1475529924\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 adunit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 bobble bobble-1 pogocnt pg-article\">\n<div data-mix-name=\"secondaryMedrec\" data-pos=\"1\" data-pogo-hide=\"1\" class=\"jsx-343126785 pogo-slot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The layoffs <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/bungie-announces-layoffs-as-it-admits-destiny-2-fell-short-of-expectations\">Bungie announced yesterday<\/a> hit nearly 300 staff who worked at the developer\u2019s Bellevue, Washington office, official records have revealed.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice issued by Sony to the Washington State Employment Security Department, reported by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gamefile.news\/p\/console-price-hike-chart-bungie-cuts-video?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email#media-b9bb73af-3cbb-438b-b711-e35fa65dcc79\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Game File<\/a>, reveals 292 staff have been let go with a formal separation date set for July 9. This number does not account for Bungie staff outside Washington state. It is unknown how many staff remain at Bungie following the cuts, although the studio was reported to have employed 850 staff as of 2024.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">It is Bungie&#8217;s third round of layoffs in three years. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/business\/local-business\/layoffs-hit-bellevue-based-video-game-studio-behind-destiny-franchise\/\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Seattle Times<\/a>, Bungie once had 1,000 employees in Bellevue, according to a 2023 annual financial report from the city. Between October 2023 and July 2024, Bungie laid off around 320 staff. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox13seattle.com\/news\/sony-cuts-bungie-jobs\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Local press have called the cuts a &#8220;bloodbath.&#8221;<\/a> <\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" style=\"display:none\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">Every Bungie Game Ever Reviewed by IGN<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reviewed by Doug Perry, February 1, 2001 &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; While I wouldn&apos;t go so far as to say that Oni is a giant hit -- it&apos;s not -- Oni is a good game that action fans, and perhaps easy-going anime fans (or is there such a thing?), might want to pick up.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 19 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reviewed by Aaron Boulding, November 9, 2001 &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; Is playing Halo worth the $350 it will cost for an Xbox and a game? If you can appreciate videogames and have been waiting for the next step, then the answer is absolutely. If you&apos;re a casual fan and don&apos;t buy more than a handful of games a year, then you still need to get Halo. It&apos;s a can&apos;t miss, no-brainer, sure thing, five star, triple A game. Microsoft created the Xbox so we could have games like Halo. Don&apos;t miss it.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reviewed by Douglass Perry, November 9, 2004 &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; Genuinely great games don&apos;t come around that often, but in 2004 we&apos;re seeing a few truly remarkable achievements come to the forefront. Halo 2 is one of them. While you can minimize the game to its basics -- it&apos;s a linear first-person shooter, it doesn&apos;t have online cooperative play, some of the cutscenes look awkward -- the level of improvement in every aspect to an already near-perfect game is staggering.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reviewed by Hillary Goldstein, September 25, 2007 &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; The campaign, which is very good, is Halo 3&apos;s weakest point. It doesn&apos;t capture the cavalier spirit of the original Halo, but you&apos;ll still have fun playing through it. There&apos;s no first-person shooter on 360 that can equal Halo 3&apos;s blend of cinematic action, adrenaline-pumping shootouts, and male- (and female)-bonding gameplay.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reviewed by Erik Brudvig, September 19, 2009 &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; Halo 3: ODST isn&apos;t a true sequel, but it is more than a standard expansion. If you&apos;re on the fence about buying it, drop your reservations and go snag a copy. If you love Halo, you owe it to yourself to pick this up as soon as you can.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">In its statement yesterday, Hermen Hulst, CEO, Studio Business Group, Sony Interactive Entertainment, spoke about the layoffs in general terms, only saying a \u201csignificant\u201d number of employees had been affected, hitting &#8220;most of the Destiny team and some Marathon team members.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Hulst described the decision as &#8220;difficult&#8221; and &#8220;painful,&#8221; but &#8220;necessary to align the studio\u2019s resources with its current priorities and long-term goals.&#8221; The news follows the recent ending of new content for Destiny 2, and the release of hardcore extraction shooter Marathon, which has struggled for players. Sony has insisted it remains committed to Marathon, whose team is also said to be working on \u201cincubation efforts for future projects.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The WARN notice redacts individual names, but includes job titles. It reveals staff across all departments were hit, including artists and technical animators, audio leads and sound designers, engineers, producers, and systems designers, and integrated Sony support teams that manage day-to-day Bungie infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">A number of former Bungie staff have taken to social media to confirm they were hit by the layoffs. Some are Bungie veterans of over a decade. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/jasonschreier.bsky.social\/post\/3mp4stadbc22h\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">said<\/a> Bungie studio head Justin Truman, who succeeded Pete Parsons last year, had stepped down. <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/PaulTassi\/status\/2070205617705210330\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">According to Forbes reporter Paul Tassi<\/a>, former Bungie VP of Operations, Poria Torkan, has reportedly taken charge of the studio.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Social media users have also <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/HarkSilverthane\/status\/2070276643361529935\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">picked up on the mention of \u201cChief Vision Officer\u201d in the WARN notice<\/a>. Some are speculating that this is Bungie co-founder and Halo and Destiny creator Jason Jones, who maintains a low profile and rarely speaks to the press. Jones appeared in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/ktTfzug0Qbc?si=ztCr_5BGlnKcTly3\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">an official Destiny 2 video<\/a> released in 2021 in which he was described as Chief Vision Officer. If Jones has left Bungie \u2014 and this remains unconfirmed for now \u2014 it would represent a true end of an era for the studio behind some of the most iconic first-person shooters ever released.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-313219616\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2026\/06\/26\/screenshot-2026-06-26-095714-1782464243997.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"null\" class=\"progressive-image article-image article-image-full-size jsx-1809694635 jsx-2338608387\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/a><figcaption data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 jsx-479945570 article-image-caption\">A rare public appearance from Bungie co-founder Jason Jones. Image credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/ktTfzug0Qbc?si=ztCr_5BGlnKcTly3\">Destiny 2 \/ YouTube<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Bungie has struggled financially for some time, and reportedly was on the brink of closure before Sony bought the studio back in 2022 for $3.6 billion. Sony <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/sony-reports-765-million-impairment-loss-due-to-underperformance-of-marathon-developer-bungie\"><u>recently reported a $765 million impairment loss<\/u><\/a> due to underperformance of Bungie specifically.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Bungie&#8217;s issues with <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/destiny-2\"><u>Destiny 2<\/u><\/a> reportedly began around the time of last summer&#8217;s Edge of Fate expansion, which was said to have underperformed. The decision to pull the plug was allegedly made &#8220;earlier this year&#8221; after it was decided not to relaunch the franchise as &#8220;Destiny Infinity.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/paultassi\/2026\/05\/28\/new-info-on-destiny-2-alarm-bells-marathons-role-and-destiny-infinity-pitch\/\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>Forbes<\/u><\/a> reported that Bungie began discussing different scenarios about &#8220;what the future of Destiny 2 would look like&#8221; after December&#8217;s Renegades, its Star Wars-themed crossover expansion, &#8220;did even worse [than Edge of Fate] and didn&#8217;t change sales or retention trajectory.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Destiny Infinity would have been a relaunch alongside a return to the one big expansion model Destiny used to have, but the idea fell by the wayside after it was allegedly decided that the costs and risks were too high, especially in the context of support for Marathon.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Destiny 3 &#8220;was considered, as ever, but things didn&#8217;t swing that way,&#8221; and there has been no behind-the-scenes hints that a third Destiny game is coming, with the cost of the game&#8217;s production cited as the key issue.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Destiny 2 launched on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on September 6, 2017, with a PC version following a month later. Behind the scenes, however, tension between Bungie and Activision emerged, and the two companies officially parted ways in January 2019, ending their 10-year publishing deal five years early. <\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">With Destiny in its own hands, Bungie self-published the game, but it couldn&#8217;t escape financial troubles and layoffs as Destiny 2 expansions failed to hit the mark and the player base dwindled. Extraction shooter Marathon launched early March, with a reported budget of more than $250 million. It too, according to analysts, has failed to meet sales expectations.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Photographer: Troy Harvey\/Bloomberg via Getty Images.<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The layoffs Bungie announced yesterday hit nearly 300 staff who worked at the developer\u2019s Bellevue, Washington office, official records have revealed. A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice issued by Sony to the Washington State Employment Security Department, reported by Game File, reveals 292 staff have been let go with a formal separation date [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,243],"class_list":["post-2012148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-ign-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2012148","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2012148"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2012148\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2012148"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2012148"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2012148"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}