Bungie has reassured the Destiny community that its commitment to the franchise remains steadfast, even as the studio undergoes significant changes.
Following the recent layoffs that saw 220 employees let go, Bungie emphasized that Destiny is set to embark on another "multi-year journey," urging fans to remain patient as the company navigates this transition.
In a series of posts on X, Bungie acknowledged the uncertainty that arose due to the layoffs but pledged to maintain transparency with its community.
"We'll be talking with you all about the future of Destiny and plans for our next multi-year journey soon," the studio announced. "Once we plant a flag for the date, we'll let you all know."
We know that recent changes at Bungie have created uncertainty surrounding the future of Destiny.
— Destiny 2 Team (@Destiny2Team) August 8, 2024
Rest assured we remain committed to Destiny, to supporting our community with transparency, and to delivering regular updates about the game.
A New Era For Destiny Amid Studio Restructuring
The recent wave of layoffs has cast a shadow of doubt over the future of Destiny, especially following the conclusion of the first major storyline, The Light and Darkness Saga, which culminated in Destiny 2's The Final Shape expansion this past June.
This uncertainty was further compounded by the announcement that Bungie, now a Sony Group Corp. (NYSE:SONY)-owned studio, would be reducing its workforce by 17%, leaving the developer with approximately 850 employees. An additional 155 workers are expected to transition from Bungie to Sony Interactive Entertainment in the coming months.
Studio head Pete Parsons addressed the layoffs: "I realize all of this is hard news, especially following the success we have seen with The Final Shape. But as we've navigated the broader economic realities over the last year, and after exhausting all other mitigation options, this has become a necessary decision to refocus our studio and our business with more realistic goals and viable financials."
Bungie's Shift In Strategy
In the wake of the layoffs, a Bloomberg report surfaced, detailing Bungie's potential shift away from large expansions in favor of smaller, possibly free updates for Destiny 2.
The report, citing current and former Bungie employees, also revealed plans for a Destiny 3 have been shelved, and a Destiny spinoff project known as Payback was canceled earlier this year. Despite these changes, development on Bungie's Marathon revival is reportedly still ongoing.
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Image: Courtesy of Bungie via Steam.