Destiny 2 Ends: Bungie Faces Major Layoffs and Leadership Departures in 2026

After nearly 10 years as one of the biggest live-service multiplayer games, Destiny 2 is officially ending development. Bungie, the studio behind the space fantasy looter shooter, announced the game's final content update "Monument of Triumph" released recently, with active development concluding in June 2026.

Now, troubling reports suggest Bungie will face significant layoffs as the game ends, with no Destiny 3 planned to absorb the development team.

What Reports Say About Bungie Layoffs

How Many Employees Could Be Cut?

Multiple sources are reporting major workforce reductions at Bungie:

Report Source - Claimed Layoff Percentage - Estimated Employees

Journalist Sylvain Trinel - At least 50% of the workforce - Roughly 400 developers and contractors 

Paul Tassi (Forbes) - "Significant" (no specific percent) - Confirms layoffs are coming 

Bloomberg - Significant number of cuts - No new project for Destiny 2 team 

Paul Tassi, a Forbes expert with sources at Bungie, stated: "I don't want to commit to a percent, but it's going to be significant. They don't have a greenlit new project, and they can hardly throw 400 more devs on Marathon".

When Will Layoffs Happen?

• Summer 2026: Most layoffs expected this summer

• July 2026: Some leadership and original Bungie veterans expected to depart when Sony deal cash vests

• June 9, 2026: Destiny 2's final content update released

Leadership Departures at Bungie

Bungie has experienced massive turnover among its executives alongside workforce cuts.

Key Leaders Who Have Left

Leader - Role - When They Left - Tenure

Ondraus Jenkis - Chief Strategy Officer - October 2024  - 16 years

Jonny Ebert - Chief Creative Officer - Recent months  - 5 years (came in 2017)

Luke Smith - Destiny Creative Lead - Recent months  -

Mark Noseworthy - Destiny Game Director - Recent months -

Pete Parsons - CEO - August 2025 -

Joe Blackburn - Former Destiny 2 Game Director - Recent years -

Justin Truman, former chief development officer and Destiny 2 general manager, took over as studio head after Parsons stepped down.

Why Are Leaders Leaving?

Many veteran executives and original Bungie staff (OGs) are expected to leave in July 2026 when cash payouts from Sony's acquisition vest. This follows Sony's 2022 acquisition of Bungie, which integrated the studio more closely with PlayStation Studios.

Why Destiny 2 Development Ended

What Led to the Game's Conclusion?

Former Destiny 2 community manager Liana Ruppert shared insights about the game's decline:

• Money didn't go into Destiny: Leadership pocketed many potential funds

• Marathon had less impact: Bungie's new extraction shooter didn't perform as fans assumed

• Emergency acquisition: Sony's merger was financially necessary; Bungie was "very close to shutting its doors" without the sale

• Sharp drop in popularity: Bungie warned employees about declining player numbers before earlier layoffs

Will Destiny 2 Still Be Playable?

Yes. Despite ending development:

• Destiny 2 remains online and playable

• The game will stay available "as long as people still want to play"

• No new content updates after "Monument of Triumph"

• A Change.org petition for Destiny 3 reached nearly 400,000 signatures, but no sequel has been greenlit

What's Next for Bungie?

No Destiny 3 in Production

Multiple reports confirm Bungie does not plan to immediately enter production on Destiny 3. The Destiny 2 development team has no new project lined up after the game ends.

Focus Shifts to Marathon

Bungie is shifting more resources to support Marathon, their recent extraction shooter release. However, Marathon cannot absorb all 400+ Destiny 2 developers.

Sony Integration Continues

Bungie is transitioning to integrate more closely with PlayStation Studios, diminishing its previous independence. Sony plans to fold Bungie fully into PlayStation Studios soon.

Previous Bungie Layoffs

This isn't Bungie's first major workforce reduction:

• July 2024: 220 developers laid off (155 absorbed by Sony)

• July 2024: Earlier report of 450 employees leaving

• 2022-2026: Part of 45,000 games jobs cut across the industry

This upcoming wave would be Bungie's third layoff wave since the Sony acquisition.

Fan Reaction and Community Concerns

The gaming community is worried about:

1. More industry layoffs on top of countless cuts at Bungie and other studios

2. Destiny 3 hopes dashed: Many wanted the original Destiny 2 talent to make a sequel

3. Bleak future for Destiny: The series' outlook looks dark without active development

4. Workplace toxicity concerns: Previous reports of crunch and toxic workplace culture at Bungie

Key Facts About Destiny 2's End

Fact - Detail

Final content update - "Monument of Triumph" 

Development end date - June 2026 

Final update release - June 9, 2026 

Game status - Remains playable online 

Destiny 3 status - Not in active production 

Next Bungie focus - Marathon extraction shooter 

FAQs About Bungie Layoffs and Destiny 2

Q1: Will Bungie lay off employees after Destiny 2 ends?

Ans: Yes. Multiple reports confirm Bungie is planning significant layoffs after ending Destiny 2 development. One journalist claims at least 50% of the workforce (roughly 400 people) could be cut in summer 2026.

Q2: Is Destiny 3 coming after Destiny 2?

Ans: No. Bungie does not have plans to immediately enter production on Destiny 3. The Destiny 2 development team has no new project lined up.

Q3: Can I still play Destiny 2 after development ends?

Ans: Yes. The game will remain online and playable for as long as people want to play, even though active development has ended.

Q4: When did Destiny 2 development end?

Ans: Active development ended in June 2026, with the final content update "Monument of Triumph" released in early June.

Q5: How many people worked on Destiny 2?

Ans: Reports suggest roughly 400 in-house developers and contractors worked on Destiny 2, with up to 50% potentially being cut.