Bungie Neared Shutdown Before Sony's $3.6 Billion Buyout, Ex-Developer Says
Updated
Updated · Windows Central · Jun 12
Bungie Neared Shutdown Before Sony's $3.6 Billion Buyout, Ex-Developer Says
3 articles · Updated · Windows Central · Jun 12
Summary
Liana Ruppert said Bungie was "below the red line" before Sony bought it in 2022, calling the $3.6 billion deal an "emergency acquisition" that likely prevented the studio from shutting down Destiny.
Her account ties Bungie's crisis to years of resource mismanagement and leadership "greed," echoing criticism from former staff after layoffs in late 2023 and again in 2024.
The claim resurfaced just after Bungie ended Destiny 2 development on June 9, closing the game with a final Monument of Triumph update as players pushed for a Destiny 3 petition that drew more than 400,000 signatures.
Sony's control over Bungie is already under scrutiny after reporting a $565 million impairment tied to the studio last month, while Bungie's next steps may hinge on the performance of Marathon.
With Destiny 2's era over, what hidden benchmarks must Marathon hit to save Bungie from collapse?
After a $1.3 billion write-down, was Sony's $3.6 billion Bungie acquisition a strategic rescue or a costly panic buy?
Sony’s $3.6 Billion Bungie Bet Falters: Financial Losses, Layoffs, and the Uncertain Future of Destiny and Marathon
Overview
Sony acquired Bungie for $3.6 billion in 2022 to strengthen its move toward a games-as-a-service model, but the investment quickly faced major challenges. Bungie struggled to meet financial targets, leading to a ¥31.5 billion impairment loss for Sony and increased pressure on Bungie’s developers. This financial setback highlighted Bungie’s unstable position and directly affected Sony’s overall performance. In response, Sony demanded greater accountability from Bungie and began to take a more active role in overseeing the studio’s operations, signaling a shift from Bungie’s promised independence to tighter integration within Sony’s organization.