Things have been breaking down at Bungie in recent weeks. Layoffs and bad news have affected employee morale, but the mood surrounding their game, Destiny 2, has also worsened. The team aimed to counter this with a post on X on August 8th and spread optimism. They want to talk with fans about the future and the next big plan for Destiny 2, which spans several years. Reactions are mixed.
This is what Bungie says: In a tweet on Thursday, August 8th, at around 9 PM, Bungie writes (via X):
We know that the recent changes at Bungie have led to uncertainty about the future of Destiny.
Rest assured that we remain committed to Destiny, will support our community with transparency, and will provide regular updates on the game.
We will soon talk to you about the future of Destiny and the plans for our next multi-year journey. Once we set a date, we will let you all know. Thank you for your patience, and we’ll see you again soon.
Signs of storm and change in Destiny 2
What do they mean by “recent changes?” They are referring to the statement from CEO Pete Parsons, that Bungie is losing 450 employees and halting all projects except for 2.
In light of this statement, many other negative aspects came to light: Several former employees are angry at CEO Pete Parsons and how he, in their eyes, drove Bungie into the ground with an overambitious strategy and behaved himself. Instead of standing up for the employees, he bought expensive cars. A former employee even called Parsons a “thief and liar”.
“Return to your roots – be the innovative pioneer you once were”
What are the reactions now? They are varied. On Twitter, Bungie is even receiving some love back. Players say:
- We know that the remaining team is working hard. And we truly appreciate you for that. The problem is the managers, we have no hope left in them. Luke Smith told us a few months ago the same things you are saying now. Where is he now?
- Nothing will stop me from playing Destiny, and I still love it, I won’t lie. But I feel burned out watching developers I love get fired. You have let go of a lot of passionate developers, and passion is what gives a game its personality.
- I have loved Bungie for over 20 years, and please take this opportunity to return to your roots. You were the best of all time when it came to innovation. And this version of Bungie is what we need back. Stop with the season nonsense that consists only of reskins, and focus on being innovative pioneers again.
“Even more transparent and the company is dissolving before our eyes”
In the comments, alongside disappointment, there is a lot of sympathy. However, there are also comments, particularly on Reddit, that are notably sharper:
- “This is almost the same thing they always say when something goes wrong: ‘Trust us, we are transparent.'”
- “Even more transparency and the studio is dissolving before our eyes.”
- “It’s absurdly funny to hear them say that when they have laid off 40% of their company in 12 months, and Sony is taking over all operations and swallowing everything that isn’t Marathon or Destiny. And Parsons is firing all experienced creatives. Everything that is left in public from Bungie is Pete Parsons – and that is a madman who has burned down the whole company, with a dozen ‘incubation projects’ that have essentially led the entire company to bankruptcy. And he is still CEO. This is almost funny at this point.”
One should be curious to see what Bungie’s “multi-year plan” looks like. According to what is heard from insider circles, there will likely be no paid expansions as in previous years, but Bungie is shifting to a different model: What is the future of Destiny 2? Insiders give hints about the future of the loot shooter
