As a long-time fan of Bungie and its groundbreaking work in the gaming industry, I find myself deeply disheartened by the recent turn of events at the studio. Having spent countless hours immersed in the rich worlds they’ve created, it’s hard not to feel a personal connection to their team and their work.
After a marathon session of playing “Destiny 2,” finishing “The Final Shape” and starting “Episode 1: Echoes,” it was enjoyable, but now it’s time to take a break. I must clarify that this sentiment is not about the game itself – it remains one of the top-tier live-service looter shooters, arguably the best. Instead, it’s about the hope and anticipation for Bungie, as tomorrow will bring new opportunities and progress.
CEO Pete Parsons has revealed that the company is getting rid of 220 jobs, which amounts to 17% of its total workforce. On a positive note, 155 positions are being transferred to PlayStation, representing around 12% of the studio. However, this transition process will likely span several quarters.
A fresh team is being established within Bungie to focus on one of their innovative projects set in a novel sci-fi realm (let’s hope it isn’t another PvP shooter like “Concord”). According to Jason Schreier from Bloomberg, approximately 40 employees are transitioning to this new team. This move has shrunk the overall workforce from more than 1300 to 850. While that number may still seem substantial, it’s hard not to feel for those who have lost entire teams or, even worse, their jobs entirely.
As someone who has worked in the tech industry for over two decades, I have seen countless companies rise and fall due to various factors beyond their control. In my opinion, the story of Parsons seems to be a classic example of a company that expanded too quickly and failed to adapt to changing market conditions.
With setbacks on projects like “Marathon” and “The Final Shape”, which are financially burdensome as we all know, the studio ended up pushing beyond its safety limits. As it became apparent that our financial situation was heading in a new direction, we recognized the need to adjust our path and pace. We took every possible measure to prevent today’s situation, even exerting tremendous effort at all levels of our leadership and product teams to address our financial difficulties. However, these actions proved insufficient, leading to the current round of layoffs, as explained by Parsons.
It’s likely you recall that Bungie let go of employees last year due to troubles with their upcoming game, Lightfall. This predicament has also potentially tainted the narratives of seasons leading up to The Final Shape, given the decrease in player numbers. But, as is often the case, there’s a bigger picture here.
According to Game File’s Stephen Totilo, who spoke to unnamed sources (some of whom worked at the studio), Bungie has been experiencing financial losses since the release of Lightfall. Not only are they frequently falling short of goals set by Sony, but one source suggests that the leadership may have sold things they couldn’t actually deliver. Despite a recent round of layoffs intended to demonstrate Bungie’s commitment to turning things around, these cuts were apparently insufficient – the most recent had already been planned earlier this year. Moreover, The Final Shape reportedly sold fewer copies than Lightfall, but it seems that the outcome had already been determined.
The critical or commercial success of the expansion, marking the end of a ten-year journey during which many players might leave, is less important than whether Bungie was affected by the support and excitement of their fans financially. However, what truly undermined the efforts of their dedicated developers was yet another instance of mismanagement at the leadership level.
It seems that Bungie’s executives have been frequently absent, raising questions about potential leadership changes, such as dismissing Parsons. However, according to Jeff Grubb from Giant Bomb, it appears that Hermen Hulst, who serves as joint CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment and president and CEO of PlayStation Studios, is currently running Bungie. The studio is reportedly set to lose its independence and operate like any other studio under Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) and Hermen Hulst, with the transition already underway.
The studio’s future form is uncertain given Sony’s recent change in direction regarding its live service strategies. Even so, former and current employees, as reported by Totilo, suggest that not being sold to the publisher wouldn’t have been a good option. One employee went as far as stating, “The alternative would have been bankruptcy.”
As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the rumored next chapter in the Destiny universe, codenamed Payback. In the recent Game Mess Mornings episode, Grubb hinted that this anticipated experience, often referred to as the “next Destiny,” has been put on hold indefinitely. Interestingly, it wasn’t officially titled Destiny 3; instead, Jason Schreier reported that it was a spinoff project, which they had stopped working on quite some time ago. They did some preliminary work on it before cancelling the project. This cancellation apparently took place before any layoffs occurred.
Bungie is fully committed to focusing on “Destiny 2” and a future project called “Marathon,” with the latter expected in 2025. There are no adjustments or surprises to the plan for “Destiny 2” this year or in the future, as previously outlined.
As a dedicated gamer, I’m still eagerly waiting for the mystery project codenamed Frontiers to unfold. But Bungie’s community manager, DeeJ (Grubb), hinted at something intriguing: instead of massive expansions like “The Final Shape,” we might be seeing more frequent, smaller content packs in Destiny 2. These packs are expected to consume less time and resources, suggesting they could be regular, exciting updates for us players. While this doesn’t necessarily mean epic expansions are off the table, it does imply that they might not be as frequent as before.
As someone eagerly anticipating the latest updates from Bungie, I’ve heard a tantalizing tidbit: a former team member hinted at an upcoming operation that looks promising. Whether this aligns with their current content strategy or adds a new twist to their future projects, only time will tell.
As a devoted fan of the series, finding myself compelled to back the production team despite their choices, it’s tough not to be disheartened by everything that’s happening. The news that key developers who provided me with some of my most cherished experiences within the franchise over the recent months have left is simply disappointing. Additionally, there are concerns about the studio’s future direction and these rumors surrounding “content packs” that cause further unease.
Although there’s debate among fans about the episodic approach, which resembles the seasonal format once used by Bungie, it’s questionable whether the studio can maintain a consistent level of quality across elements like environment design, storytelling, activities, visuals, music, weaponry, and other aspects. This shift could potentially reduce revenue through large expansions and attract new players to the franchise, possibly leading to a stagnation in development.
Although it’s unlikely that “Destiny 2” will be abandoned imminently, given it’s currently the only game bringing in revenue for Bungie, these recent events suggest a less promising future. It might leave one questioning the excitement for an upcoming title like “Marathon”.
It’s possible to contend that this game may establish a standard within the extract-and-shoot genre, but doing so comes with its own set of difficulties given the rapid growth of competitors in the market. With reported delays, changes in leadership (supposedly Christopher Barrett), and rumors about focusing on playable characters, there’s a risk that it could turn into another debacle for the studio, worsening their existing financial struggles.
There’s a possibility that Bungie might rebound, but many thought this was going to occur with “The Final Shape.” Despite numerous successes and emotional relief offered by the expansion, the gaming industry has shown us that real-life outcomes can sometimes fall short of expectations, plunging the franchise into difficult times.
Keep in mind: The opinions presented within this article belong to the writer, and may not align with or be endorsed by GamingBolt collectively.
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2024-08-04 12:11