Earlier today, Bungie CEO Pete Parsons announced yet another round of layoffs, devastatingly affecting 220 employees, or roughly 17% of the company’s workforce. This corporate move is just the latest example of what many see as nothing more than the appalling greed and gross mismanagement that has plagued Bungie’s chief leadership for far too long. Parsons, in a desperate attempt to justify this heinous decision, stated that this decision would impact “most of our executive and senior leader roles” which we can’t help but call total bullshit on.
This morning, we shared an important update with the Bungie team on the difficult decision to eliminate 220 roles at Bungie.
You can read the full statement below.https://t.co/FVkWNSWDtZ
— Bungie (@Bungie) July 31, 2024
Parsons also cited a “quality miss with Destiny 2: Lightfall” and an increased focus on the upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon (which the community couldn’t care less about) among the many reasons Bungie felt compelled to once again punish the talent, despite a well-received Final Shape expansion release. However, we do not know the financial impact the expansion had on the company at this time.
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The gaming community, as you can imagine, is in an uproar, demanding Parsons’ immediate resignation, especially from ex-Community Manager Liana Ruppert who states that these layoffs were planned to have happened sooner. This backlash comes on the heels of the well-received expansion of Destiny 2: The Final Shape, proving that the developers’ hard work and dedication were not the issues. Instead, it’s the insatiable greed and incompetence at the top that’s dragging Bungie down.
C-Suite taking accountability for any of this or still just "withholding bonuses" and it'll be "settled in-house"?
Poor leadership has crushed one of the greatest developers of all time.
Retire, Pete.
— Griffin Bennett (@GriffinWB) July 31, 2024
Parsons last announced layoffs on Twitter (now X) on October 20th, 2023, demonstrating a consistent pattern of poor decision-making and disregard for the people who make Bungie what it is. These layoffs are not isolated incidents but rather symptoms of a deeper, more systemic problem within Bungie’s leadership. It’s clear that Parsons and his cronies are more interested in lining their own pockets than in fostering a healthy, productive work environment. But of course, Pete is always quick to post on social media about how sad it is to terminate the roles of hundreds of people and uproot their whole lives while he continues to ruin Bungie from the inside with no consequence other than massive paydays.
Adding insult to injury, Parsons’ blog post today hinted that Bungie had several games in the incubation stage, which now seem to be cancelled. This means many of those laid off were likely working on these now-abandoned projects, their hard work and dreams no doubt crushed by the executive leaderships reckless decisions. The company’s focus will now be solely on Destiny 2 and Marathon, a clear indication that innovation and creativity are being sacrificed at the altar of executive greed, something we have seen often throughout Destiny 2’s lifetime, most recently with Lightfall, a poorly-received expansion that seemed like a desperate cash grab.
Parsons had the audacity to claim that these layoffs would “affect every level of the company, including most of our executive and senior leader roles.” However, this is nothing but a feeble attempt to placate the masses. We all know that the highest levels of leadership, the very people responsible for this mess, will remain unscathed. It’s an insulting lie designed to shift blame away from where it rightfully belongs.
The global community lead, known affectional as “DMG” had previously left Bungie for reasons relating to harassment before returning into this new role. DMG, who has been crucial of Bungie and its leadership during the time he was away from the company, was quick to once again express his displeasure and disappointment after the news of the layoffs were shared earlier today.
Inexcusable. Industry leading talent being lost, yet again. Accountability falling upon the workers who have pushed the needle to deliver for our community time and time again.
Please maintain focus on those who’ve lost their position & income. Offer help where you can. https://t.co/SSDveUd5uW
— dmg04 (@A_dmg04) July 31, 2024
The message just repeats:
Regret, regret, regret. https://t.co/FcpcFmgKly
— dmg04 (@A_dmg04) July 31, 2024
Setting expectations: Full focus for the coming days will be on people.
Comms will likely be impacted for some time.
Many apologies, but the health of the team and folks impacted take priority.
Much love.
— dmg04 (@A_dmg04) July 31, 2024
Pete Parsons and the current leadership at Bungie must be held accountable for their unending poor leadership and disastrous decision-making. And that may happen soon as there has been chatter over the last year since Sony Interactive Entertainment purchased Bungie for over $3.5 billion.
According to sources, Sony has the right to replace the leadership at Bungie should they operate under a less than acceptable standard. Now, we aren’t corporate lawyers or council by any means but if we are SIE, and we see this behavior as a continuous trend over the last ten years and happening still today, we would be sharpening the ax, as it were. However, these reports also claim that many chief offers and higher-level execs are waiting until 2026 for a cashout of some kind before leaving Bungie behind with more layoffs expected. And, what do you know.
The gaming community deserves better, and so do the hardworking employees who pour their passion into creating the games we love. It’s time for a change at the top, and it starts with Pete Parsons stepping down along with every other greedy member of executive leadership.
