Bungie announces layoffs affecting most of the Destiny team

gamingJun 25, 2026737,312

Destiny 2 is at the center of a community shock after Sony confirmed a reorganization that laid off most of Bungie's Destiny team and some Marathon staff. Impacted creators have named whole groups, calling out that the Destiny VFX team, sandbox and Raid and Dungeon designers, and senior narrative staff were hit, and several developers are publicly listing credits to find new work. The moment centers on personal threads of gratitude and loss: a senior narrative designer is asking followers to repost their resume, a contractor has left a fundraiser link, and artists are finishing long-delayed tributes while quoting Destiny mottos like Per audacia ad astra. Colleagues are offering direct hiring help and private support as developers scramble to land next steps.

ariella

@agbouskila.bsky.social

Well, I've been affected by the Bungie layoffs, and I guess I'm now looking for work. I'm a senior narrative designer on Destiny 2. I'm going to thread a little list of stuff I've done on the game; normally I go out of my way to avoid attention, but today I'd appreciate reposts.

156045d ago

ariella111

[long pause as I try to figure out where even to begin!] My first D2 release was Season of the Wish. I got to write our big shapeshifting dragon villain Riven's last words in game and her personal romance novel. (www.ishtar-collective.net/categories/b...)

fujoplasty15

they are FOOLS for fumbling you

Aaron7

Would be insane that you don't get picked up within the next month. Best wishes to you

Cat Manning6

really sorry to hear this.

CajunGeek5

Ariella, Im so sorry this happened to you. At the same time, thank you for some amazing stories and narratives you brought to this game. I hope you are able to find something soon.

Tori Schafer4

Hey! I have a possible narrative design opportunity I'd love to chat with you about. Feel free to shoot me a message if you'd like to hear more. (And please take your time if you need it, I completely understand.)

THICCEST YOSH4

Ari is a fantastically skilled writer, and incredibly organized, reliable, creative and inventive designer. Anyone looking for a top class narrative designer would be lucky to have you on the team.

two woopers in a trenchcoat4

Thank you for helping build the world that was home to me for over a decade. Thank you, and everyone on your team, and please know all of us think you all deserved better.

spooky-bug.bsky.social4

I have no clue about any of this, seems I'm out of my normal spaces. I just saw this post, though. They mention the Bungie layoffs and are offering to possibly hire bsky.app/profile/sphy...

mola 🌱 WORMMAXXING3

wherever you land next better thank their lucky stars or die by my blade!!!!! but right now, I want to thank you for everything: for pouring your heart (and blood sweat tears etc) into making this game that meant — and will continue to mean — so much to so many folks. your words will stay with me.

telsie 🦬2

thank you for your fantastic work on D2! best of luck going forward

Andre Weast2

I'm sorry this happened to you but I have a question you might be able to answer. When Bungie decided to sunset over half of the original content and DLCs was there any internal outcry? Did any of the staff speak up and say "hey this sucks and is going to kill the player base"

Pati2

So awful, I have been missing my D2 people lately and now all of this! So glad you found me here, Ari. D2 narrative team lives in my heart!🩵

Dee2

Ari I'm so sorry to hear this!!! 😭 You're an incredible writer and I hope you're able to find something soon! 💖

Quoting this

Ash Poprik 🗡️39

I do not think I could’ve done my job as competently as I did without Ari’s help. She’s an encyclopedia of Destiny knowledge (she was on Rising AND D2) and a wonderful collaborator. Bungie is going to struggle without her, but their loss is your gain! Hire Ari!

Ash Flanagan 🏳️‍🌈27

Ari's a brilliant writer and generous collaborator with an incredible grasp of Destiny's lore and themes, and I was Historian, I'd know. If you have the chance to get her for your team you'd be a fool not to.

Rebecca Fraimow7

I think about some of Ari's brilliant frameworks for writing and narrative design pretty much every day; if you're hiring for writers you literally could not do better

Emily Tesh6

Ariella is one of the sharpest narrative thinkers I know; some of you will remember her guest appearance on Eight Days of Diana.

Everina Maxwell5

Ari has been writing banger after banger for Destiny 2 for years and if you're hiring for writers they would be an insane get

fujoplasty5

hire Ariella if you want your writing to fuck severely

Lynne3

Beyond being an incredible writer and funny as hell, Ari is so damn thoughtful. Everything they've done is intentional, carefully worked out from idea to impact, and I always know if I ask them a question I'm going to get an answer that blows me away in how thorough and smart it is. Hire them!

Kizu Carter3

Yo, anyone looking for professional narrative services?

zøë wolfe

@glitchwolfe.studio

I'm sad to say I was affected by the Bungie layoffs today too - while I was only a contractor, the capture work I did with them was some of the most consistent income I had. While I'm scrambling to figure out what's next, our GFM from earlier this year is still up: www.gofundme.com/f/help-zoe-a...

49445d ago

zøë wolfe14

Working on videos at Bungie is probably one of the coolest jobs I've ever had. I'm gonna miss it so much. Going to share the videos I worked on in this thread. My first project ended up being the trailer for the Server Slam: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWwX...

〽️ax krieger asks: who's going to PAX WEST?4

oh jesus i am so sorry

Darcy May4

noooooo I'm so sorry zøë I know how much you were enjoying it 😢

⚢ celeste ⚢2

oh no, that’s awful, i’m sorry

molly2

fuck! I was worried when I heard the news. I'm sorry Zoe, that seemed like a perfect gig

Quoting this

Fred Wood9

Zoe's cool as fuck and you should hire them for everything.

dipshit8

these folks kick major ass, support them if you can

daffodil 🇵🇸 🇱🇧4

Please support Zoe and Saoirse! Game dev layoffs destroying the livelihoods of creative people i call my friends and collaborators left and right and i dont love to see it! Help keep folks stable of you can!

Robert Brookes 🌿

@sphynxian.bsky.social

Bungie folks impacted by the layoffs: please let me know if you see anything on our careers page that is a fit for you. I will gladly help with application advice and recommendations: www.cdprojektred.com/en/jobs

60945d ago

Quoting this

spooky-bug.bsky.social4

I have no clue about any of this, seems I'm out of my normal spaces. I just saw this post, though. They mention the Bungie layoffs and are offering to possibly hire bsky.app/profile/sphy...

Nathan Grayson

@nathangrayson.bsky.social

if you’ve been impacted by layoffs at bungie or xbox and want to securely and privately discuss it—especially in terms of what this terrible loss of talent means for workers and studios—feel free to reach out: aftermathdotsite@proton.me or nathangrayson.666 on signal

41745d ago

Neil would rather be eating ice cream3

Please tell any of the Bungie people that they made an amazing product in Destiny and Destiny 2 and they didn’t deserve what they got in return

Lynne

@overquailified.bsky.social

Well folks, the hand of the market got me: I've been impacted by layoffs at Bungie. It's been an incredible, astonishing pleasure working on Destiny 2 and a small part of Marathon with so many wonderful, talented folks. This was my first AAA job, at a studio whose games I'd played since childhood.

36345d ago

Lynne59

I had such an incredible time working alongside and learning from so many smart, thoughtful, experienced, and wildly creative devs. I'm grateful I had a chance to put a mark, no matter how faint, on Destiny 2. Through the ups and downs, we made something incredible.

Mal2

I am so sorry, Lynne. You and your team did an amazing job. This shouldn't have happened. 💙

Quoting this

Ash Flanagan 🏳️‍🌈26

Lynne's a tremendous writer with a background in a broad range of genres, and they wrote some of my favorite prose in The Final Shape. Hire them!

Ash Poprik 🗡️8

Lynne is such a gem. I always got stoked anytime we were paired to work on something because they have an incredible wealth of ideas and knowledge. Plus, their Marathon lore was just straight up a delight to read.

Ash | Wishlist Cartomantic on Steam!

@ashmakes.games

I've been affected by the layoffs sweeping across Bungie. I have a lot of feelings about how things went down, but mainly I'm grateful for the talented people I've worked with closely. Grateful to have had this opportunity as my first industry job. You may be seeing me more often from now on. 🖤

36645d ago

Des Walsh3

I’m sorry to hear that Ash

Gray2

Ash you ever need anything from me just let me know 💙💙💙

Doomski - Wishlist Project Timbre2

💔 sorry to hear that

Garrett Jones

@supersamuri0987.bsky.social

Impacted by the layoffs today. I was really hoping Bungie could hold on for at least another 2 years so I could get my 15 year sword XD It's been a dream to get to work with the best developers in the industry making some of the coolest shit. May all of us land on our feet <3

31345d ago

Olive Wesley5

One month short of my shield :<

CajunGeek3

Thank you for designing some amazing raids! I know this weekend will hurt a bit more when I step into Deep Stone Crypt with my friends. I hope you are able to find something soon. My heart goes out to all of you affected by the layoffs.

Bree, Captain of The Unreliable 🌌🎮3

My feed is flooded with the announcements of everyone being let go. I'm so sorry, Garrett. 💔 You all deserved better.

Lowbie-Wan Kenobi2

Destiny is a masterpiece, thank you for all that

Viv @ Home

@doe-or-die.bsky.social

WELP ITS BEEN REAL but I was hit by today's bungie layoffs ✨ Happy about what I got to make and the showing I made of it, though. see u space cowboys.... u_u7

29345d ago

Daryl Nelson4

Vivian, I'm so sorry... :( Thank you for making my time at Bungie so much better, and for making some of my most favorite moments in Destiny possible.

Cat Manning3

absolutely fuck this, I’m so sorry

Ashley3

Nooo Vivian not you, too! I'm so sorry!

Diana Voyer2

I'm so sorry Viv. 💔

John Romero's Dyketana2

take the time u need viv, hope u are able to find a stable job soon 🖤

Quoting this

Cat Manning50

Viv is an incredibly talented and versatile designer who replaced a unicorn dev and thrived in that role. I do think she could do anything.

Andrealphus, The Shade System8

Viv has been responsible for so many cool things in Destiny 2, that my partner and I could tell what she worked on by how fun and satisfying the particular fantasy of that gun or ability was. An irreplaceable talent that any studio would be blessed to have on their team.

M Ryder4

I can’t overstate what a polymath Viv is, both technically and for design as a whole. And game or team would be lucky to have her.

Bee 🌙 (Lilith is out!! Link in bio!!)3

Hire Viv!!! She an incredible game designer and I promise she’s the best person you’ll ever hire for any project.

Lisa Pelayre 🐴👧

@priello.bsky.social

I have been impacted by the layoffs at Bungie/SIE. While today's news hurts, I do not have a single regret from my near 7 years here. I have grown so much as a Producer and a person and it's because of the people I worked with.

23945d ago

miki bishop 🔪 (looking for work!)3

you were an incredible producer. thank you for everything 🫂❤️

Nayan Ramachandran2

I'm really sorry about how this has all played out. I hope you manage to find a new position soon.

Beeonkey2

You are the best. I’m so sorry

Ari Bilyeu2

I’m am so sorry Lisa ❤️ I don’t even have words right now. You are such a stellar producer and such an incredible mentor. I am so grateful to have had the chance to learn from you. If there’s anything I can do, please please let me know.

TimeSpace | Allie 🏳️‍🌈2

You are such a FORCE. And working with you was always a pleasure.

tami lam2

I’m sorry Lisa! If you see any jobs at Scopely that interest you, let me know.

The Snowlion2

I'm so sorry, Lisa. 7 years is a pretty solid run with any company these days. I hope wherever you land next treats you well 💜

Prince Zexu (Looking for Work)2

Noooo not too you Lisa 😭

Quoting this

Lisa Pelayre 🐴👧36

I also want to say: I've been expecting this for a bit and have spent the past few months preparing for it, both financially and mentally. Still really hurts but I will be okay.

Andrew O’Connor12

Lisa is a pros pro. We worked together directly at Bungie and I could not recommend someone more. A best of the best, person.

Artem Sorokin

@artagah.bsky.social

I got impacted by today's layoffs, as is essentially the entire Destiny VFX team, leads and all. It was a good half decade, Bungie. If y'all know a project that needs a VFX artist I can make you some pretty sparkles :) www.artstation.com/artagah

17245d ago

Olive Wesley

@lindydragon.bsky.social

I too am part of this round of layoffs at Bungie. It’s been real, y’all 🫡

18745d ago

Andrealphus, The Shade System2

Noooo!! They've lost an incredible talent, I hope another studio discovers your great skills soon 💙

Drexis Animations

@drexisanimations.bsky.social

It’s been one hell of a ride, y’all. I have been impacted by today’s Bungie/Sony layoffs. I’m not sure what to say other than thank you so much for being a part of our worlds. I am so beyond grateful to have contributed to a tiny part of them. I hope they inspired you. Ad Astra, Et Ultra.

18545d ago

Quoting this

Gorath Hyun6

I still remember the day Drexis announced they were picked. It was so exciting! I hope your next position is deserving of your talent and dedication.

Brian Shea

@brianpshea.bsky.social

The Bungie layoffs once again seem like the labor force paying for the sins of mismanagement at the top. Tale as old as time. At least PlayStation says that the team's work remains "important" and a "priority." Sure.

16745d ago

The Emotion Engine

@emotion-engine.bsky.social

Hey it’s me, Bungie. I love two things: fumbling the bag and doing mass layoffs at the end of the month so people’s benefits expire almost immediately. It’s been a banner couple of years for me and I can’t wait to see what the future holds 😎

17345d ago

djSyndrome6

I understand the sentiment but let's wait a moment until the severance agreement leaks. It could be possible that they've somehow managed to retroactively cancel benefits back a month or two; that would be some novel thinking.