Destiny 2 is currently making headlines due to the potential shift of the important DLC “The Final Shape” and the recent wave of layoffs. An internal Bungie source has now spoken with US journalist Paul Tassi from Forbes, shedding some light on the situation.
What has happened recently?
- On October 30, it became known that the developer studio Bungie is laying off employees. Apparently, the composer of the game had to go as well.
- At the same time, rumors about the delay of the long-awaited DLC
The Final Shape
emerged. The layoffs are suspected to be the reason. - By November 1, it became clear that Bungie is laying off about 8% of employees due to a
significant decline in popularity
. An insider report also provided first insights into the events behind the scenes. - Players are protesting against the layoffs by canceling their high-priced pre-orders for the new DLC.
- On November 3, Bungie reached out to the community with a statement about how Destiny 2 should proceed.
Where does the report with the new insider information come from? Just like the first insider information from November 1, the new information comes from a report by US journalist Paul Tassi from Forbes. After a long conversation with an internal source at Bungie, he presents further information regarding the layoffs and the potential delay of the DLC.
New Information on the Layoffs: The Management Allegedly Waived Bonuses
What new information is there regarding the layoffs? The following insights were provided by Paul Tassi’s internal source:
- Bungie reportedly took layoffs as a last resort, having exhausted all other cost-saving options. According to Bungie, the management even waived their annual bonuses. An exact amount is not known.
- The workforce reportedly does not blame the acquisition by Sony. This acquisition is said to have saved the developer from an earlier crisis.
- The studio itself allegedly missed its annual target by about 45%, as the player engagement rate and revenue dropped sharply following the release of the DLC “Lightfall”.
- Employees are reportedly very angry with the management.
What is the status of The Final Shape
? Here’s what the internal source had to say about the new DLC:
- The alleged delay of
The Final Shape
from February to June 2024 is said to have been known internally for several months. The Final Shape
is claimed to not only be as good asForsaken
or the Destiny expansionThe Taken King
, but even better. In the gained time until the release, they want to incorporate the existing feedback and bring the DLC to the best possible state.- The current development status of the DLC is reportedly already quite advanced and ahead of schedule.
Are there any general updates on Destiny 2? Paul Tassi also has new insights on this:
- Parts of the PvP strike team have been affected by the layoffs, as has the player security team. However, the new map pack is already far in development and will not be canceled.
- Currently, there are no announcements for further personnel changes regarding Destiny 2.
- The introduction of the in-game LFG feature was announced to the community before the developers. The implementation is technically complicated but it will come.
- The developers pushed for a reduction in microtransactions, which was rejected. Microtransactions are essential for the game’s financial performance, in light of the allegedly high operating costs. Event cards, in particular, are said to sell very well.
- The stated goal for Bungie remains to be a studio with multiple IPs.
Overall, the layoffs and changes seem to mainly be happening at Bungie itself. Plans from the parent company Sony have surfaced little to not at all in the internal discussions thus far. However, the employees are overall angry, and the performance of The Final Shape
will likely determine how things will proceed with Destiny 2 and Bungie.
More on Destiny 2: Destiny 2: Xur today – Location and Offers on 03.11.
The Final Shapewas already confirmed. However, this is not the case.
The information regarding a possible planned delay comes from gaming journalist Jason Schreier, who announced this on X.com (formerly Twitter). The internal source of Forbes journalist Paul Tassi also reports on this.
An official confirmation from developer Bungie is still pending.
