Bungie, the developer behind popular games like Destiny 2, has reportedly been affected by layoffs, joining the ever-growing list of video game studios undergoing downsizing in 2023. According to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, staff at Bungie were informed of the layoffs on October 30th.
The exact number of people affected by the downsizing is unclear, but Bungie CEO Pete Parsons reportedly sent an email to the staff notifying them of a meeting where they would receive more information. Parsons later took to Twitter to express his sadness about the layoffs, stating, “Today is a sad day at Bungie as we say goodbye to colleagues who have all made a significant impact on our studio.”
He continued, “What these exceptional individuals have contributed to our games and Bungie culture has been enormous and will continue to be a part of Bungie long into the future. These are truly talented people. If you have openings, I would highly recommend each and every one of them.”
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In addition to the layoffs, Bloomberg has also reported that the release of Destiny 2’s The Final Shape DLC has been delayed from February 2024 to June 2024. Furthermore, Marathon, another upcoming game from Bungie, has been pushed to 2025.
While layoffs are not uncommon in the video game industry, 2023 has proven to be a particularly difficult year for developers. Media Molecule, the creator of Dreams, saw a reduction of 20 staff members earlier in October. F1 Manager studio Frontier Developments was also hit with layoffs during the same week.
CD Projekt Red, the studio behind The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077, has undergone several rounds of layoffs as it undergoes restructuring. The job losses within the company prompted some employees to start a union for Polish game developers.
Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, laid off 830 employees, affecting studios like Mediatonic, the developer of Fall Guys. Telltale Games and Team17, the maker of Worms, have also experienced significant layoffs.
The video game industry can be unpredictable, and these recent layoffs serve as a reminder of the challenges that developers face. It is always unfortunate to see talented individuals and teams affected by downsizing. We hope that those affected will find new opportunities and continue to contribute to the industry in meaningful ways.
