Why did Bungie lay off employees?
Bungie laid off employees due to revenue running significantly below expectations, which led to a sharp drop in the popularity of its flagship video game Destiny 2, resulting in the company cutting an estimated 100 jobs from its staff of about 1,200. The ** layoffs** at Bungie are part of a trend of staff cuts in Sony-owned studios, including Naughty Dog, Visual Arts, and Media Molecule, which has raised concerns about the future of the Destiny franchise.
Understanding Bungie’s Layoffs
The decision to lay off employees was reportedly made after management warned staff about the revenue shortfall, and it is believed that the layoffs will have a significant impact on the company’s operations and the future of the Destiny franchise.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following FAQs provide additional information about Bungie’s layoffs and the company’s history:
- How many people did Bungie lay off?: Bungie laid off approximately 100 employees, which is about 8% of its 1,200-strong workforce.
- When did Bungie split from Activision?: Bungie announced that it was ending its partnership with Activision in January 2019, and would take over publishing for Destiny.
- Is it hard to get a job at Bungie?: According to Glassdoor, Bungie’s interview experience is rated as 55.3% positive with a difficulty rating score of 3.33 out of 5.
- Why did Bungie stop making Halo?: Bungie stepped away from Halo in 2007 to push forward in the industry and not be tied to a single franchise.
- Why did Activision let Bungie go?: Activision split with Bungie because Destiny was not meeting its financial expectations.
- Why did Sony buy Bungie?: Sony bought Bungie for $3.6 billion to acquire its technical skills and talent pool, and to help other PlayStation studios create games that can live on other platforms.
- Why did Activision drop Bungie?: Activision dropped Bungie because Destiny was not meeting its commercial projections.
- Why did Microsoft let Bungie leave?: Microsoft let Bungie leave due to internal conflict within the company, and Bungie’s desire to move on from Halo.
- Does Bungie no longer own Halo?: Yes, Bungie no longer owns Halo, as the rights to the franchise still belong to Microsoft.
- Did Bungie give up Halo?: Yes, Bungie gave up Halo when it split from Microsoft in 2007.
- Who was laid off at Bungie?: One of the notable employees laid off at Bungie was Michael Salvatori, the company’s famed composer.
- What is the Bungie employee controversy?: The controversy surrounds charges of harassment, pay discrimination, and an “old boys’ club” culture at Bungie.
- Did Bungie employees go to 343?: Yes, some former Bungie employees, including Frank O’Connor, joined 343 Industries, which is owned by Microsoft.
- Why did Bungie sell Halo?: Bungie sold Halo to become an independent company, as Microsoft owned the rights to the franchise.
- Will there be a Destiny 3?: There are rumors about a new Destiny game, but there is no official confirmation from Bungie or Sony.