By Kotaku | Created at 2026-06-25 21:24:38 | Updated at 2026-06-25 22:55:04
1 hour ago
Earlier today, Bungie confirmed mass layoffs were underway as part of its latest restructuring. The Sony-owned studio didn’t say how many developers were impacted, but a new government filing points to several hundred people being let go.
According to a new Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filed with the state of Washington, where Bungie is based, at least 292 people are being laid off at the Bellevue-based maker of Destiny 2 and Marathon. Their separation date is July 9. Recent estimates put the studio’s total headcount at around 800, down from a peak of around 1,300 just a few years ago. That would suggest Bungie is now down to around just 500 or fewer staff, just over a third of what it was back when Sony purchased it for $3.6 billion.
The layoffs hit developers across all different departments and disciplines. “The entire Cinematic org was included,” now former Bungie cinematics director John Ebenger wrote on Bluesky. “Let me know if you’re looking to pick up a Director and/or other talented cine folks at any level.” Other messages from impacted employees poured out across social media and LinkedIn as they are thrust out into one of the most challenging job markets the gaming industry has ever seen.
Sharing some LinkedIn posts for visibility in a thread here. The team at Bungie is so talented, resilient, passionate, and creative. Any studio would be lucky to have them. I’m at a loss for words – my heart goes out to everyone impacted. pic.twitter.com/uUBOA6xKmH
— Liv (@bayouliv) June 25, 2026
“We have made the decision to reduce Bungie’s workforce, affecting a significant number of employees, including most of the Destiny team and some Marathon team members,” PlayStation Studios boss Hermen Hulst informed staff earlier today. “There are also reductions across SIE teams that support Bungie’s operations. Those impacted at Bungie and within SIE are being informed today.”
He continued, “This is painful news, especially for talented colleagues whose roles have been eliminated. This decision was made only after extensive discussion and careful consideration, and I want to provide some context on how we arrived here. Over the past several months, together with Bungie leadership, we reviewed the studio’s long-term direction, development priorities, resource needs, and role within our broader portfolio strategy. We explored multiple alternatives before concluding that a reduction was necessary to align the studio’s resources with its current priorities and long-term goals.”
The latest mass layoffs come after Destiny 2 was officially sunset with its final update earlier this month and as Bungie continues working on post-launch content for Marathon. The studio is also working on incubating new projects.
