Sony’s Bungie Layoffs Because Game Delays

[Kerosene31]

Will destiny continue on as WOW has or will it go on until the next big thing?

I think it has to continue in some form just to pull in some cash. Otherwise, Bungie won't be pulling in any revenue until Marathon and other games.

I think they are changing 4 seasons a year to 3 "episodes" or something, so scaled back, but not gone.

 

[Kerosene31]

 

[Kerosene31]

A much deeper dive on this for anyone interested.

One big thing on "who controls Bungie". Right now Bungie is independent with the board is 3-2 with Bungie people having the narrow lead over 2 Sony people. The important things are that there are revenue targets that would give control to Sony (no idea on those numbers, but missing them seems very realistic)

Bungie Devs Say Atmosphere Is ‘Soul-Crushing’ Amid Layoffs, Cuts, and Fear of Total Sony Takeover - IGN

One month after a major round of layoffs impacted roughly 100 Bungie employees of 1,200, those remaining at the Destiny developer say the cuts, as well as other cost-cutting measures, came alongside an apparent scramble by studio leadership to avoid a total Sony takeover.

www.ign.com

 

[wshowers]

A much deeper dive on this for anyone interested.

One big thing on "who controls Bungie". Right now Bungie is independent with the board is 3-2 with Bungie people having the narrow lead over 2 Sony people. The important things are that there are revenue targets that would give control to Sony (no idea on those numbers, but missing them seems very realistic)

Bungie Devs Say Atmosphere Is ‘Soul-Crushing’ Amid Layoffs, Cuts, and Fear of Total Sony Takeover - IGN

One month after a major round of layoffs impacted roughly 100 Bungie employees of 1,200, those remaining at the Destiny developer say the cuts, as well as other cost-cutting measures, came alongside an apparent scramble by studio leadership to avoid a total Sony takeover.

www.ign.com

If true that is an awful stipulation to agree to. Sony could easily self sabotage to gain full control of Bungie.

 

[yankeessuck]

If true that is an awful stipulation to agree to. Sony could easily self sabotage to gain full control of Bungie.

I would say that isn't worth doing if everyone just ends up leaving but Bungie themselves might just end up causing that

 

[Kerosene31]

If true that is an awful stipulation to agree to. Sony could easily self sabotage to gain full control of Bungie.

My guess is that Bungie knew it was in big trouble and was looking for a lifeline.

Honestly I wonder how long Bungie would have lasted on their own. I think they were dead without Sony and they knew it.

 

[wshowers]

I would say that isn't worth doing if everyone just ends up leaving but Bungie themselves might just end up causing that

Bungie Ip right now might be worth more than the talent. Definitely worth more than the management.

My guess is that Bungie knew it was in big trouble and was looking for a lifeline.

Honestly I wonder how long Bungie would have lasted on their own. I think they were dead without Sony and they knew it.

I think Bungie's apparent poor management over the years is finally starting to show. Couldn't make it work with MS or Activision now in risk of losing their independence to Sony. Yeah I think that on their own, the "Final Shape" would make or break their company just like it is now.

 

[karmakid]

Bungie Ip right now might be worth more than the talent. Definitely worth more than the management.



I think Bungie's apparent poor management over the years is finally starting to show. Couldn't make it work with MS or Activision now in risk of losing their independence to Sony. Yeah I think that on their own, the "Final Shape" would make or break their company just like it is now.

“Final shape” now sounds like they’re referring to themselves rather than the game

 

[yankeessuck]

Bungie Ip right now might be worth more than the talent. Definitely worth more than the management.

Destiny has value but nowhere enough to not make the Bungie purchase look really rough if Sony had to blow Bungie up and rebuild it.

 

[eVo7]

Destiny 2 is so bad. They flushed all the good things about D1 down the toilet with 2. Bungie hasn't had that "magic" in over a decade. They are a GaaS dev nowadays, they make revenue generating simulators, that's it.

 

[Kerosene31]

Bungie's management played in, but I think it was always going to blow up. The live service model like they pushed was never sustainable. They were always pushing people like crazy and always putting tons of money into it. Now, when they made tons of money it made sense, but lose some players and the bottom falls out.

There's no real brand loyalty in gaming. I played Destiny 1 since launch day, and every D2 season and DLC, but 2023 comes around, I get a little bored and start playing some of the other great games.

I think Destiny 2 kind of hit that covid dead zone where gaming really slowed down. They had content, and not a lot of video game competition. 2023 was the perfect storm of a great gaming year plus their content delays.

The bubble was always going to burst. The fact that it lasted 10ish years is still impressive. Destiny 2 will still live on in some form for years more.

 

[karmakid]

 

[DriedMangoes]

Would not be surprised if they take the same stance as MS did with Zenimax and Activision for new IPs.

 

[karmakid]

Would not be surprised if they take the same stance as MS did with Zenimax and Activision for new IPs.

Only thing here that sucks I’d that Bungie was public about their deal with Sony and very outspoken about staying independent, that’s why they left ms and activision. That’s also one reason so many devs stayed after the purchase

If it does happen I wouldn’t be surprised if many of the remaining og founders leave as well, either retire or start something new a long with other dedicated devs.

I fear that when it happens it’ll be the end of Bungie as we and the industry know it. They already cut and postponed their own company events that they’re known for, a first since they’ve started.

 

[Kvally]

Remember guys, this is all a rumor. It may be full of s***.