Bungie
Bungie business and news from across the web.
Xbox is closing down studios to help fund more Halo claim insidersXbox is reportedly planning significant layoffs and studio closures as part of a strategy to reallocate resources towards key franchises like Halo, The Elder Scrolls, and Fallout. Insiders suggest this move aims to revitalize struggling IPs and address issues with post-launch support, particularly for Halo Infinite. Several studios, including Ninja Theory and Double Fine, are rumored to be at risk.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney suggests AI could've saved Destiny 2 and will "enable games like Destiny to thrive!"Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney suggested that a lack of generative AI adoption may have contributed to Destiny 2's struggles, stating that the technology could enable games like it to thrive. He also criticized Valve's policies regarding AI disclosures in games, arguing they hinder developers. The article explores the potential role of AI in accelerating game development and content creation.
Destiny 2 community manager calls out "leaders who made multiple years of poor decisions" as former Bungie VP shares post blaming industry implosion on the marketDestiny 2 community manager Dylan Gafner responded to a discussion about the games industry's current state, suggesting that leadership's poor decisions over multiple years are a significant factor, not just market conditions. This comes after former Bungie VP Mark Noseworthy shared a post that placed blame primarily on the market. Gafner clarified his comments were not a personal attack but stemmed from conversations with former colleagues affected by recent Bungie layoffs.- Destiny 2’s next patch is delayed into next week thanks to Bungie’s mass layoffsBungie has delayed the next patch for Destiny 2 into next week due to recent mass layoffs impacting the development team. The patch, which focuses on bug fixes, was originally scheduled for Tuesday. Some of the fixes included in the delayed patch were being worked on by employees who were let go.
Even Hideo Kojima is afraid that 'digital data will no longer be owned by individuals' and that access to art…Hideo Kojima has expressed concerns about the future of digital ownership, fearing that players will eventually lose control over their digital data and access to art. This sentiment is amplified by Sony's reported move towards a fully digital PlayStation ecosystem by 2028, raising anxieties about game preservation and the potential loss of access to purchased content due to external factors like server shutdowns or company closures.
After layoffs and Destiny 2's abrupt end, Bungie "can't promise a fix" to reported issues: "We will get this out when possible"Bungie has announced a delay for a Destiny 2 patch due to recent mass layoffs impacting the development team. The studio stated that while the patch is not indefinitely postponed, some fixes were being worked on by affected employees. Bungie is also addressing player-reported issues with Destiny 2's performance, acknowledging that while they "can't promise a fix," they will investigate.
This Week In Games Was Bad, But Next Week May Be WorseThe gaming industry experienced a particularly bleak week with multiple significant layoffs, studio closures, and price increases. Microsoft's Xbox division saw widespread job cuts, while Sony announced plans to end physical disc production for PlayStation games by 2028. These events, coupled with delays and the ongoing impact of AI discussions, paint a grim picture for the industry's immediate future.- Destiny 2 almost got an honest-to-goodness dating sim, but leadership gave it a ‘hard no’Former Bungie developers revealed that a dating simulator concept based on Destiny 2 was developed internally but ultimately rejected by leadership. Former community manager Liana Ruppert confirmed the existence of the 'Dream Daddy inspired' concept and expressed agreement with criticism that leadership was out of touch. Separately, Bungie's Dylan Gafner offered words of encouragement to fans concerned about the game's current state, while the studio continues development on its upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon.
- MMO Week in Review: Guild Wars goes mobile, Bungie gets layoffsThis week's MMO news includes Guild Wars launching on mobile, Star Trek Online's new update, and Throne & Liberty's summer expansion. However, the industry also saw significant layoffs at Sony and Bungie, impacting hundreds of developers working on Destiny 2 and Marathon. Other news includes Valve's Steam Machine pricing, the ongoing Ashes of Creation lawsuit, and updates on Grand Theft Auto VI's online multiplayer.
PlayStation CEO promises to "revitalise the market" with more live service gamesPlayStation CEO Hideaki Nishino stated in an interview that the company intends to invest more in live service games to "revitalize the market." This comes despite recent underperformances and layoffs in the live service genre, including at Bungie. PlayStation has had mixed success with live service titles, with hits like Helldivers 2 and notable failures like Concord.
Opinion: Everything hurts and no one knows when the pain will endThe article discusses the ongoing financial struggles and mass layoffs within the game industry, attributing them to a combination of economic factors, executive mismanagement, and alleged abuses of power. The author, Bryant Francis, shares personal coping mechanisms for dealing with the constant stream of bad news and emphasizes the need for the industry to learn from past mistakes.
Rockstar Games staff push for union recognition ahead of GTA VI launchEmployees at Rockstar Games are seeking official union recognition through the IWGB Game Workers Union ahead of the Grand Theft Auto VI launch. This effort follows alleged dismissals of union members in October 2025, which the union is challenging as union-busting. Union recognition would provide formal collective bargaining rights and workplace protections for employees.- Destiny 2 Is Finished – and Now More Appealing Than EverDestiny 2 is now considered finished as a live-service game, presenting a complete Bungie first-person shooter experience with a defined endpoint. Players can now enjoy the game without concerns about future content updates altering their established builds.
PlayStation – and The Gaming Industry – Just Doesn’t Learn With Live-ServiceDespite numerous high-profile failures and significant layoffs within studios like Bungie and Quantic Dream, Sony Interactive Entertainment, led by Hideaki Nishino, remains committed to pursuing live-service games. This strategy is questioned due to past setbacks and the company's historical strength in single-player titles, with concerns that chasing trends is leading to wasted investment and development resources.
PlayStation CEO says company wants to "revitalise" live-service gamesSony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hideaki Nishino expressed a desire to "revitalize" the live-service game market with both first-party and third-party content, emphasizing the importance of continuous updates. He mentioned the upcoming release of their own live-service title, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and acknowledged the challenges in the genre. This comes after recent layoffs at Bungie and the cancellation of several PlayStation live-service projects, with Helldivers 2 being a notable success.
Games Inbox: Is GTA 6 being hyped too much?Readers discuss whether Grand Theft Auto 6 is receiving excessive hype, with some questioning the series' controls and the trend towards digital-only releases. The conversation also touches on rising console prices, the impact of AI on the industry, and the potential for remakes like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO hasn't given up on live-service games just yetDespite numerous cancellations and underperforming titles, Sony Interactive Entertainment president Hideaki Nishino has reaffirmed the company's commitment to live-service games. Nishino stated that the genre is still relatively new and that Sony wants to continue taking on challenges within it, aiming to revitalize the market with both first-party and third-party content. Sony plans to release its own live-service title, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, this year.
Something for the Weekend – 27/06/26This week's gaming news was dominated by Grand Theft Auto 6, with pre-orders going live and details about the Ultimate Edition and digital-only physical copies revealed. Other news includes Bungie layoffs, SteamOS availability on PCs, and price increases for Xbox Series consoles. Several games received reviews, including Zero Parades: For Dead Spies and Gothic 1 Remake, while previews were offered for Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy.
Bungie’s Recent Layoffs Affect 292 Employees in Washington StateBungie has laid off 292 employees in Washington State, with their last day being July 9. The layoffs impact various departments, including art, engineering, and production, with some Destiny 2 developers affected. The news comes from a report citing a notice to the Washington State Employment Security Department from Sony.
Halo 3's final mission could have been a flying banshee scene inspired by Star Wars: Return of the JediHalo 3's final mission, the Warthog Run, was almost a flying sequence inspired by Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Campaign design lead Robert Stokes revealed that some developers pushed for a banshee escape scene instead of the iconic Warthog Run. Ultimately, the developers opted for the Warthog Run, which paid homage to the original Halo: Combat Evolved.