Summary
Destiny 2: The Final Shapelaunched just two months ago, and the consensus is that it was a much-needed step up in quality following the disappointment of Lightfall, andan incredible ending to the decade-long story that the game has been building. Despite the expansion being adored by both fans and critics, it doesn’t seem to have been enough, asBungierecently announced that at least 220 roles at the studio have been eliminated.
Bungie CEO Pete Parsons claimedin a statement via the Bungie websitethat “rising costs of development” and “industry shifts as well as enduring economic conditions” are the reasons behind the layoffs. It’s been widely reported thatParsons himself has been ousted, replaced by newly appointed Sony CEO Herman Hulst, as Bungie looks set to be merged into PlayStation as a whole,something that staff has fearedever sincelast year’s mass layoffs.
It’s a tragedy that so many people have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, but it’s especially baffling that key figures in Destiny 2: The Final Shape’s success have been laid off too. One such person is the expansion’s narrative lead, Kwan Perng, who has been laid off less than two months after The Final Shape’s launch at the start of June.
The Final Shape was widely praised for its story, something that Perng would have been deeply involved in being the expansion’s narrative lead, but that success doesn’t appear to have saved them from the layoffs. It’s a baffling decision on Bungie’s part to lay off anyone at all after The Final Shape, but it’s especially sickening for those that were actually happy with the direction of the game’s overarching story.
If anything, this simply drives home that even critical acclaim and the adoration of thousands isn’t enough to save a studio these days. Hi-Fi Rush is another game that was loved, and developer Tango Gameworks was one of the best in the business, but thatdidn’t stop Microsoft from shutting it down to funnel more cash into bigger projects. It’s rough out there right now, but here’s hoping all of those affected by Bungie’s layoffs land on their feet and find more work soon.
