Bungie faces mass layoffs amid toxic workplace claims

Bungie, the studio behind Destiny, is confronting a severe internal crisis. Reports indicate that up to 50% of its staff could be laid off as the company struggles with declining support for Destiny 2 and uncertain performance of its next project, Marathon, for Sony. Former employees described a toxic and dysfunctional work environment, blaming leadership for excessive pressure and loss of focus on player enjoyment. Narratives from ex‑designer Michael Zenke and former QA lead Uriah Belletto highlight a culture that prioritized demanding service‑as‑a‑game models over staff wellbeing. The studio, once close to closure in 2022, now relies heavily on the success of Marathon to avoid further repercussions.