Sony announced on June 25, 2026, that Bungie would reduce its workforce, affecting “most of the Destiny team” and some Marathon team members. GeekWire reported that a Washington state WARN filing listed 292 Bungie job losses in Bellevue, effective July 9; Sony did not state a company-wide total, and it said supporting Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) teams were also affected.
How many Bungie employees were laid off?
Sony’s June 25 announcement described the reduction as affecting a “significant number” of Bungie employees but did not give a total. GeekWire reported that a Washington State Employment Security Department WARN filing listed 292 Bungie job losses in Bellevue, with an effective separation date of July 9, 2026. That is a reported count for the Bellevue filing, not a company-wide total supplied by Sony. Sony also said SIE teams supporting Bungie would face reductions, without specifying their number.
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GeekWire said the roles listed in the filing included artists, engineers, producers, designers, technical animators, and audio leads.
Why is Bungie laying people off?
Sony Interactive Entertainment Studio Business Group CEO Hermen Hulst said leadership had spent several months reviewing Bungie’s direction, development priorities, resource needs, and place in Sony’s portfolio. After considering alternatives, he said, they decided to reduce the workforce to align resources with current priorities and long-term goals. This is Sony’s explanation of the decision, not an independently established account of its causes. Read Sony’s announcement.
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GeekWire reported Bungie’s accompanying rationale: Destiny 2 had fallen short of expectations in recent years, while future projects were still in early incubation, so the studio could not continue operating at its previous size. That explanation was attributed to Bungie.
How do the cuts compare with earlier Bungie job losses?
GeekWire’s June 2026 report put the reductions in the context of earlier cuts since Sony acquired Bungie in 2022. It reported more than 600 jobs cut across three rounds. The figures below are historical context, not a current headcount.
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| Period | Reported job losses | Context |
|---|---|---|
| October 2023 | Roughly 100 | Earlier Bungie cuts, as summarized by GeekWire in 2026. |
| July 2024 | 220 | Bungie said the cuts represented roughly 17% of its studio workforce; GeekWire summarized the round in 2026. |
| June 2026 | 292 | Bellevue job losses on a state WARN filing, as reported by GeekWire; effective separation date July 9, 2026. |
GeekWire also reported that 155 roles transferred to SIE in 2024. Those were transfers, not eliminated jobs, and should not be added to the job-loss figures. Its report said Bungie had more than 1,400 employees before the cuts began; that is historical headcount context, not a current staffing figure.
What happens to Destiny 2 now?
The layoffs followed Bungie’s May 21, 2026 announcement that Monument of Triumph, released June 9, would be Destiny 2’s final live-service content update. Bungie said the game would remain playable after active development concluded. Ending live-service content updates did not mean the game would immediately become unavailable. Bungie’s announcement explains the transition.
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- From the makers of the acclaimed hit game Destiny, comes the much-anticipated sequel
- An action shooter that takes you on an epic journey across the solar system
- Humanity’s last safe city has fallen to an overwhelming invasion force, led by Ghaul, the imposing commander of the brutal Red Legion
- To defeat the Red Legion and confront Ghaul, you must reunite humanity’s scattered heroes, stand together, and fight back to reclaim our home
On September 17, Bungie leaders Poria Torkan and Josh Deane described plans to restore vaulted Destiny 2 campaigns, destinations, and raids. Those plans mark a later direction for the game; they do not change the earlier announcement that the June 9 update was its final live-service content update. The leadership post did not establish delivery dates for the restoration work. Read the September update.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Bungie still working on Marathon?
Sony said some Marathon team members were affected by the June cuts; it did not say the entire team was laid off or that work on the game had ended. In September, Torkan and Deane said Bungie planned to evolve Marathon toward a deeper survival experience. The post sets out the studio’s direction, not a guaranteed release schedule. They also wrote, “Trust won’t be rebuilt through a single blog, video, or release.”
Quick Recap
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- Destiny 2
- Expansion I: Curse of Osiris
- Expansion II: Warmind
- Destiny 2: Forsaken
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