Bungie Confirms Layoffs as It Halts Destiny 2 Development

May 22, 2026 - 16:14

Bungie, the studio behind the long-running looter shooter Destiny 2, has announced a round of layoffs as it shifts its development priorities away from the franchise. The Sony-owned company will no longer pursue major new content for Destiny 2, effectively ending its active development cycle. Instead, Bungie is redirecting its resources toward Marathon, a new extraction shooter that has been in the works for some time.

The decision marks a significant turning point for the studio, which has supported Destiny 2 with expansions, seasons, and live events for years. Rather than jumping directly to a Destiny 3, Bungie has chosen to bet on a fresh intellectual property. Marathon, originally a classic first-person shooter from the 1990s, is being revived as a modern multiplayer experience. The move suggests that Bungie sees more potential in building something new than in continuing the Destiny saga.

The layoffs are part of a broader restructuring effort. Employees affected by the cuts will receive severance packages and support, but the news adds to a growing list of studio downsizings across the gaming industry. For Destiny 2 players, the announcement means the end of regular content drops, though the game will remain playable for the foreseeable future. Bungie has not detailed how it will maintain the game's servers or handle any final updates.

This shift raises questions about the future of the Destiny universe. While fans have long speculated about a third mainline entry, Bungie's focus on Marathon indicates that the studio is ready to move on. Whether this gamble pays off remains to be seen, but for now, the layoffs and the end of Destiny 2 development mark a somber chapter for one of gaming's most dedicated communities.