It’s never a good thing that a game developer, especially one that apparently is “doing great,” suddenly lays off some of their staff. Not only do people lose their jobs, but it makes gamers wonder if certain gaming projects that were in the works are in danger of delays or cancelation. The latest company to be hit by layoffs is Bungie. The team laid off about 8% of its staff and then noted that Destiny 2: The Final Shape, which was to be the final piece of content for their title, was delayed alongside their upcoming title Marathon. It wasn’t a good announcement, and many have been worried ever since.
While various statements have already been made about the layoffs, Bungie took to their website to personally address the fans about not just the layoffs but why the content had to be delayed to meet their expectations:
“This has been one of the most difficult weeks in our studio’s history, as we’ve parted ways with people we respect and admire. We’ve spent this week supporting one another, including those who are at the studio, as well as friends and colleagues who no longer are.
We want to acknowledge the feedback and concerns you have about Lightfall and recent Seasons, as well as your responses to the reveal of The Final Shape. We know we have lost a lot of your trust. Destiny needs to surprise and delight. We haven’t done this enough, and that’s going to change.”
According to them, their job now is to make their final piece of DLC content an “unforgettable experience” that “honors what came before” as they attempt to wrap up a 10-year journey. They promise that there will be updates about the short-term and long-term goals for the company going forward, so we’ll be on the lookout for that.
While all of this sounds promising, the very fans they were “pitching to” weren’t exactly “amused” by their statements. Some on Twitter noted that Bungie was trying to “keep expanding” a game that had no appeal to new players because they couldn’t catch up on all the content.
Others blasted the company because of the moves they made in the past, like taking away content that the players had already paid for. Some even stated that the company was turning into a dumpster fire.
What happens to the team and their games next is up in the air, but they’ll have plenty of work to do to regain what they lost.
