Bungie employees turn on their CEO after layoffs: "You invited me to come see your new cars TWO DAYS before you laid me off"

It is another black week for the video game industry. Bungie, the studio behind the original Halo and Destiny 2, has announced a new wave of layoffs that will affect 220 employees across the company (17% of the workforce). According to the statement, another 155 will be integrated into Sony Interactive Entertainment’s organizational chart. This is in addition to the 100 jobs lost at the end of October, just before the launch of The Final Shape expansion. As expected, the reaction of employees on social media was not long in coming. Not only do they blame management for the situation, but some accuse Peter Parson, the company’s CEO, of spending millions of dollars on classic vehicles when Bungie’s situation was so delicate.

“Coward. You did this. You chose this,” commented one employee affected by the cuts. “You lied to my face. Straight to it. You also invited me to come see your new cars TWO DAYS before you laid me off. Two. Fucking. Days. Leave. Now.” Shortly thereafter, the head of the Valorant Players Association, Taylor Broomall, tweeted out a list of classic cars that Peter Parson has purchased in recent years. Coincidentally, he appears to have spent more than $2 million since Sony’s acquisition, which took place in 2022.

Several teams have almost completely disappeared

Beyond the car issue, other workers and former workers have spoken out against the current management: “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.” Liana Ruppert was head of community at Bungie and was blunt: “You are a liar, a thief, and so many things we can’t discuss publicly. STEP DOWN and WITHOUT the giant Sony payout. This isn’t on Sony, this is squarely on the failure of lead ship. Plain and simple.”

The entire customer service team is gone, as is the music and sound team. “My whole team is gone,” said one employee. “I’m just in shock.”

Stephen Totilo, a journalist for the newsletter Game Fille, was able to confirm from three different sources that the layoffs have been planned since early 2024, regardless of what happened with The Final Shape expansion. Bungie has been losing money since the launch of Lightfall in early 2023, when it failed to meet Sony’s financial targets. “I think Sony overpaid for Bungie,” said one of the sources. “I think Bungie promised things they couldn’t deliver.”

Destiny 2: The Final Shape is now available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.