Tag: Bungie
News Former Bungie Director Chris Barrett Suing Sony for Over $200 Million
Turns out being a director at Bungie can be lucrative
Former Destiny 2 and Marathon director Chris Barrett is suing Sony Interactive Entertainment. He claims that his firing for alleged inappropriate behaviour (detailed in a March Bloomberg report) was a pretence to avoid paying the $50 million he was owed under his employment agreement following...
News Street Fighter 6 Brings Ryu, Chun-Li, Cammy to Destiny 2 in Themed Items
Emotes, Ghost shells, and finishers from 19th November
Three classic Street Fighter characters will be used as inspiration for a set of newly themed items in Destiny 2. On 19th November 2024, Ryu, Chun-Li, and Cammy will be brought to the Bungie universe by way of new emotes, finishers, and Ghost shells, presumably purchasable using real money. You...
News Bungie Provides Lengthy Development Update on PS5 Extraction Shooter, Marathon
It's a Marathon, not a sprint
Bungie's game director on Marathon, Joe Ziegler, has fronted a camera, offering a nearly 10-minute development update on the eagerly anticipated PS5 extraction shooter. In addition, some new images are shown but no gameplay, with the promise of "a lot more" to come, including playtests, in 2025. Gematsu has the full...
News PlayStation, Bungie Still Going Ahead with Internal Live Service Team
Will support all of Sony's live-service titles
There's been little mention of the "SIE Live Service Centre of Excellence" since Sony acquired Destiny 2 team Bungie a few years ago, but it still sounds like the initiative is going ahead in some form. Bridget O'Neill, a lead figure at Bungie Creative Studios, has shared her team will be joining...
News Fresh Marathon Details Cover Heroes, Pricing, and Bungie's Silence
The final sprint is going to be brutal
We know remarkably little about Marathon, considering its release window begins in a few months, having been revealed almost a year and a half ago. We aren't sure how many more mulligans Bungie is allowed, either, and with the spectre of Concord and
News Sony Pulled Bungie's Head Out of Its Ass, and an Ex-Lawyer Reckons That Was a Good Thing
"It was important to pretend that 'nothing would change'"
A former Bungie lawyer has made some illuminating remarks concerning parent company Sony and its wayward, unruly child. Following its acquisition by the PlayStation platform holder in 2022, Bungie has frequently been in the headlines, but rarely for the right reasons. On that most exciting...
News Bungie Commits to Destiny 2 DLC and Support Through 2026
Two expansions and four free content updates per year
Bungie has revealed it has plans to support Destiny 2 with new content — both paid-for and free — through until at least 2026, as it announces a change in how it approaches and distributes its post-launch expansions. Instead of building up to an annual DLC release, the developer confirms it...
News Bungie's Making Headlines for All the Wrong Reasons Yet Again
When it rains, it pours
When will it end for poor embattled developer Bungie? The iconic outfit – which Sony scooped up for billions to lead its floundering live service charge – went through an enormous round of layoffs earlier this year, with the PlayStation maker seemingly enforcing some management authority over the subsidiary. And
News Bungie to Reveal the Future of Destiny and Its Next Multi-Year Journey Soon
A Marathon, not a sprint
It’s not been the best few weeks for legendary developer Bungie, as it’s seen its studio downscaled, one of its teams spun-off, and its management underfire. Now fans of Destiny 2 are beginning to ponder what’s next for the game they love – and the company that made it. All will be revealed in the near future,...
News Bungie Accused of Overselling Itself to Sony, Promising Success It Couldn't Deliver
"Sony overpaid for Bungie"
It seems as though more and more in-the-know people are weighing in on the deeply unfortunate situation at Bungie. Following on from the news that the studio has shed 220 of its employees — with another 155 being integrated into positions at PlayStation — the Destiny developer has now been accused of overselling itself...
News A Big Bungie Project Has Been Cancelled, But It Wasn't Destiny 3
That's Payback
There’s turmoil at developer Bungie following another brutal round of lay offs which saw over 200 employees let go, and a further 150 or so reallocated roles within parent company Sony. Speaking about the drama on his Game Mess Mornings podcast this week, snoopster Jeff Grubb said that a major new project named Payback had been...
Contrary to common opinion
There’s a common sentiment among PlayStation enthusiasts that Bungie waded into Naughty Dog’s offices, saw a finished version of The Last of Us 2’s long anticipated live service multiplayer game, and immediately started flipping over tables and ordered the acclaimed developer to cancel the whole thing. The reality...
Pete Parsons in the firing line
Back when Sony acquired Bungie for $3.6 billion, the deal repeatedly stressed that the Destiny developer would continue to remain independent, and would operate adjacent to PS Studios, rather than underneath it. However, there were apparently performance targets in place which meant if the studio missed them,...
Reaction Sony's Billion Dollar Bungie Buyout Is Looking More and More Like a Blunder
Destiny's wild
Back when Sony announced its $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie, we didn’t quite understand it. Sony was under intense pressure at the time, as Microsoft was still in the midst of its corporate consolidation storm, and didn’t look likely to stop until it owned most of the industry. Acquiring the legendary Halo creator always...
News Bungie to Lay Off 220 Workers, Will Be Further Integrated into Sony
"Today is a difficult and painful day"
Destiny 2 developer Bungie has confirmed it will be letting go of 220 employees "due to rising costs of development and industry shifts as well as enduring economic conditions". As a result, the team will be further integrated into PlayStation Studios as a further 155 workers transition from Bungie to positions...
Review Destiny 2: The Final Shape (PS5) - Bungie's Promise Fulfilled
There was an idea
10 years ago, we booted up the beta for Destiny on PS4. It was an exciting time, as the possibilities of multiplayer on console were rapidly expanding into the territory of live service, a term that didn’t hold quite the same implications as it does now. There were bold claims of half a billion dollar budgets and decade spanning...
News Destiny 2 Clan Clears The Final Shape Raid, Unlocking Game's Final Mission
The stuff of legend
A Destiny 2 clan has heroically cleared The Final Shape expansion's raid, unlocking the game's true final mission for all players to undertake. The 12-player Excision mission is now live, which can be accessed by opening the Pale Heart destination from the director screen and scrolling over to the right. PC Gamer detailed the...
News Bungie Apologises for Its Widespread Destiny 2 DLC Launch Issues
"We're truly sorry"
No online game or update will ever roll out completely flawlessly, but as the pivotal final chapter in its story released just yesterday, the Destiny 2 servers were essentially brought to their knees. New expansion The Final Shape is designed to be a sort of conclusion to the current narrative saga, so the surge of interest to...
News Bungie Responds After Destiny 2's The Final Shape Was 'Accidentally Pushed Live on PS5'
You hate to see it
Destiny 2 developer Bungie has acknowledged its unfortunate situation ahead of the launch of the game's final DLC expansion, The Final Shape, tomorrow, on 4th June. In a stunning own-goal, The Final Shape was "accidentally pushed live on PS5's streaming service", and spoilers for this decade-spanning story arc are now being shared...
News Destiny 2 Comes Full Circle as The Final Shape Draws Near
The end of an era, one way or another
The climactic conclusion to Destiny 2 is almost upon us, with Bungie's eagerly anticipated expansion, The Final Shape, just days away, touching down on PS5 and PS4 on 4th June. It brings to a close the current Light and Darkness story saga, which began back in 2017. A suitably cinematic trailer has been released...
News Destiny 2 'Expansion Open Access' Announced, Could Be the Perfect Time to Dive Back In
Is this destiny
PlayStation and Bungie have announced a new Destiny 2 initiative, in which three of the game's big expansions will be completely free to play. Shadowkeep (2019), Beyond Light (2020), and The Witch Queen (2022), are all being made available. Meanwhile, Lightfall, the game's most r
News Bungie to Undo Controversial 'Sunsetting' of Destiny 2 Weapons
"We want to rally all Guardians to help fight the Witness"
As the end of the current phase of Destiny 2 draws to a close, with The Final Shape out in just a month and a change, it really does seem like Bungie is putting it all on the line. A new faction, the first in years, will be introduced, as will the ability to mix and match subclass powers...
News Bungie Might Be Making Destiny 3, Its Fanbase Speculates
Destiny will live on beyond The Final Shape
For a long, long time now, the hardcore Destiny 2 fanbase appeared to accept Bungie would always stick to its seasonal and expansion-based model, and never develop a standalone third entry in the series. Referencing the issues the studio has with its engine and how after layoffs hit, the most committed...
News Destiny 2: The Final Shape Introducing New Enemy Faction, Subclass Mixing
The shape of things to come
Destiny 2 players were treated to several welcome surprises during Bungie's The Final Shape developer gameplay preview, which seems to have injected the community with some much-needed hype. The first new faction the game has seen in years has been revealed, along with the Prismatic subclass, which will allow Guardians to...
News Bungie Announces Destiny 2: The Final Shape Showcase for Next Week
Beginning to take shape
Embattled developer Bungie will showcase The Final Shape, Destiny 2's latest, last, and perhaps most important expansion, next Tuesday, providing an update on the in-development project. The Final Shape was originally supposed to launch in February 2024 but was hit with a delay alongside last year's layoffs. Bungie invites...
News Bungie Shuffles Marathon Leadership as Fears of Further Layoffs Loom
Joe Ziegler replaces Christopher Barrett as game director
Embattled developer Bungie is betting big on its in-development next live service offering, Marathon, the successor to Destiny 2, and a north star for the seemingly rudderless studio to sail towards. Despite suffering through a round of layoffs as recently as October, it's feared there may be...
News Fancy Ghostbusters Items Up Next in Destiny 2
There's a custom Ghost, Sparrow, and more
In collaboration with next week's Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire movie hitting cinemas, Destiny 2 will be getting in on the supernatural fun with some themed items for the looter shooter. Unlike it's recent hoverboard update, though, these are more likely to appear in the premium Eververse store rather than be...
News Free Hoverboards Is the Best News Destiny 2's Had in Quite Some Time
But do they work on water?
Destiny 2 is getting hoverboards! And they're free! Yep, in a bid to try and drum up some excitement for the shooter's upcoming seasonal stuff, Bungie has revealed that hoverboards — or 'skimmers', a new form of transportation — will be made available to all players. Although if you want additional boards, you'll...
News Mass Effect Collaboration Inbound for Destiny 2 in February on PS5, PS4
Join the crew of the Normandy in Destiny 2
In a crossover we were shocked to discover hasn't happened before, Mass Effect is coming to Destiny 2 in a collaboration between BioWare and Bungie, out on 13th February. Guardians can gear up with some N7-themed armour sets inspired by Commander Shepard, Garrus Vakarian, and Liara T'Soni for Titans,...
News Bungie Will Finally Let You Change Your Appearance in Destiny 2
Soon
Destiny 2 turns seven years old later this year, launching in 2017 on PS4. Die-hard fans who rolled a dud of a character, like an overly-edgy Awoken or a dorky-looking Exo, will finally be able to change up their character's appearance in an upcoming update, due sometime before June's The Final Shape expansion. In a blog post, Bungie...
News Lead Bungie Staff Fear 'Total Sony Takeover' After Layoffs, Delays
IGN report claims
Developers at Destiny 2 studio Bungie are said to be fearful of a "total Sony takeover" following missed revenue targets, layoffs, and product delays, a new IGN report claims. According to sources speaking to the outlet, higher-ups within the studio have hinted the shared power it enjoys with Sony following last year's acquisition...
Talking Point Is Bungie Really the Right Developer to Aid Sony's Live-Service Push?
A live-service centre of excellence, apparently
When was the last time you read a news story about Bungie and Destiny 2 that was genuinely positive about the game? If you only get your gaming news here at Push Square, it would be last week: the new armour set themed around The Witcher 3 looked pretty cool. It was then pointed out you could actually...
News Destiny 2's Latest Microtransaction Is So Bad Bungie's Already Removed It from PS5, PS4
Capitalism, Crime, Psychological Horror
In a development Bungie could have done without, the Destiny 2 developer has already pulled a contentious $15 starter pack offered in Season of the Wish, which just went live yesterday. The pack provided a pitiful assortment of goods and was marketed towards new players, a combination of things the community...
News Destiny 2's Pricey Witcher 3 Crossover Armour Sets Remain Undeniably Cool
The Witcher Effect
We've noted previously the coolness of Destiny 2's upcoming The Witcher 3 crossover content, which features stylish cosmetic armour sets inspired by Geralt of Rivia's own. Available now, we have a trailer showing them in action and are beginning to understand why Bungie is charging such a
News Bungie Confirms Destiny 2 DLC Delay After Company Layoffs
Now out on 4th June 2024
Bungie has today confirmed the widely reported delay to Destiny 2 DLC The Final Shape is indeed happening following significant layoffs at the developer. The PS5, PS4 expansion will now launch on 4th June 2024. In a post on the Bungie blog, the team says the delay allows them to "deliver an even bigger and bolder vision" as...
'Micro'-transactions
As noted in our coverage of the reveal, Destiny 2's new, The Witcher 3-inspired crossover cosmetics look cool, but knowing the general state of microtransactions in live service games, they're probably going to cost a small fortune. Taking that thought and running with it, players are already dragging Bungie's plans through the...
News Alright, Destiny 2's Witcher 3 Crossover Armour Is Cool
Make a wish
We'll admit, it's been quite some time since we wrote anything genuinely positive about Destiny 2, but we're willing to give it up for this newly revealed crossover. Bungie's teamed with CD Projekt Red to craft some really cool looking cosmetics based on The Witcher 3, which decks out Titans, Warlocks, and Hunters in armour that...
News Bungie Acknowledges Destiny 2 Concerns Following Layoffs
"We know we have lost a lot of your trust"
Bungie has released a statement, the first since the news of layoffs at the Destiny 2 studio broke earlier this week, with around 100 staff impacted. The fallout from the move has led some players to demand refunds for DLC in protest, ad
News Destiny 2 Fans Demand Refunds for Next DLC After Bungie Layoffs
Players no longer want to support the developer
Destiny 2 users who have pre-ordered next year's expansion The Final Shape have begun demanding refunds as a way to voice their distaste at the round of layoffs that hit Bungie on Monday. Spotted by The Game Post, threads on
News Interest in Destiny 2 Reportedly at an All-Time Low
Employees begged for positive changes
Player sentiment surrounding Destiny 2 has never been worse, a new IGN report claims. As part of an article detailing the unfortunate round of layoffs at developer Bungie, it is suggested players are looking elsewhere off the back of the game's disappointing Lightfall expansion and follow-up seasons. Sources...
News Bungie Layoffs Reportedly Impacted Around 100 Staff, Revenue 45% Below 2023 Projection
Decision came from Bungie management, not Sony
New reporting suggests this week's layoffs at Bungie, the Sony-owned developer behind Destiny 2, have impacted around 100 staff members, or roughly 8% of the studio's headcount. Bloomberg reports that executives at Bungie told employees two weeks ago that Destiny 2 was running some 45% below revenue...
News Bungie CEO Laments 'Sad Day' for Sony Studio Following Layoffs
"These are truly talented people"
Bungie – like a number of other Sony first-party studios recently – has been hit by a wave of layoffs, as the Japanese giant seeks to streamline its business. Despite registering record revenues, the platform holder has been aggressively cutting jobs this year – a trend, which, to be fair, has been consistent...
News PS5 Live-Service Game Marathon Has Reportedly Been Delayed to 2025
Destiny 2 DLC pushed back too
As part of Bloomberg's report on layoffs at Sony-owned developer Bungie, it is also claimed the studio has pushed back its PS5, PC live-service title Marathon to 2025. In addition, Destiny 2 DLC The Final Shape will now release in June 2024 instead of February. Neither Sony nor Bungie have confirmed the delays, but...
News Bungie the Next PlayStation-Owned Dev to Suffer Layoffs
Undisclosed number of employees lose their job
A new report from Bloomberg, which has been confirmed by posts from employees on Twitter, has revealed Destiny 2 developer Bungie has been hit with an u
News Bungie Is Giving Incorrectly Banned Destiny 2 Players Silver to Say Sorry
We sincerely apologize
Destiny 2 players who have found themselves out in the cold recently might want to check their emails, as it seems like a "small number" of players were banned through no fault of their own. Better, Bungie is making good with 5,000 Silver, the service title's premium currency, valued at nearly USD $50, or around £40. Spotted...
News Destiny 2 Will Try to Win Back Some Positivity with Its Annual Showcase Next Week
Taking shape
Bungie has announced that it'll be hosting its annual Destiny 2 Showcase next week, on the 22nd August. Naturally, it'll feature fresh info on The Final Shape — the shooter's next expansion — Season 22 of the game, the next reprised raid, and "more". If you've been keeping up with Destiny 2, you'll know that things have been more...
News Keith David Will Succeed Lance Reddick as Destiny's Commander Zavala
Reddick's lines will remain unchanged
Bungie has announced that experienced voice actor Keith David will succeed the late Lance Reddick in the role of Commander Zavala in Destiny 2. Reddick passed away back in March, aged 60. In a blog post, Bungie announced that David would be taking up the mantle as the English voice of Commander Zavala through...
News Glorbo Comes to Destiny 2, Pantsing Another AI Website Along the Way
Glorbo-mania sweeps the globe
While admittedly insufferable at times, an advantage that living, breathing video game journalists have over their relentless AI competitors is the fear of being wrong publicly, which is a powerful motivator for us fragile flesh bags. If you don't know what a Glorbo is, good, it means you passed the test. "Glorbo" is...
News Bungie's PS5 Marathon Reboot Recruits Top Halo Infinite Talent
Full circle
Bungie's intent with its in-development Marathon, so the rumours say, is to create the "ultimate live service game". Judging by how much weight the Destiny studio's word seems to carry within Sony's current corporate climate, we'd believe they'll be given carte blanche to do so.
News SEGA and Bungie Were On Microsoft's Shopping List in 2020, Xbox Emails Show
All to "accelerate" Game Pass
Microsoft's ongoing attempts to buy Activision Blizzard for an absurd $69 billion (we still struggle to comprehend that number) have forced the company to divulge all kinds of weird details on how Xbox operates behind the scenes. Case in point: Microsoft has just been forced to share internal emails, in which Xbox bo
