Sony Interactive Entertainment has shared an internal update addressing the recent layoffs at Bungie, with PlayStation Studio Business Group CEO Hermen Hulst describing the decision as “necessary” after months of evaluating the studio’s future. The memo, published on Sony’s official website, follows Bungie’s announcement that it had carried out a workforce reduction.
In his message to employees, Hulst acknowledged the impact of the cuts while explaining the reasoning behind them. He confirmed that the layoffs affected most of Bungie’s Destiny team, some members of the Marathon team, and employees across Sony Interactive Entertainment who supported Bungie’s operations.
The executive called the situation “painful” but said the company believed the restructuring was required to position the studio for the future.
Sony says months of review led to the decision
According to Hulst, Sony and Bungie leadership spent several months assessing the studio’s long-term direction before deciding to reduce its workforce.
“This is painful news, especially for talented colleagues whose roles have been eliminated,”
Hulst wrote.
He added that the decision came only after
“extensive discussion and careful consideration,”
explaining that multiple alternatives had been explored before leadership concluded that a reduction was necessary.
“We explored multiple alternatives before concluding that a reduction was necessary to align the studio’s resources with its current priorities and long-term goals.”
While Bungie has not disclosed the exact number of employees affected, Hulst confirmed that the layoffs extend beyond Bungie itself, impacting Sony teams that worked alongside the studio.
Hulst also addressed Bungie’s future projects in the memo.
Reflecting on Destiny, he praised the franchise’s legacy following what Bungie recently described as its final live-service content update.
“What Bungie has accomplished with Destiny over the past decade has been truly remarkable. The franchise has left a lasting mark on players and the industry, and everyone who contributed to its success should be proud of what they helped create.”
Although much of the Destiny team was affected, Hulst reaffirmed Sony’s commitment to Marathon, Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter.
“Marathon remains an important part of our portfolio,”
he wrote, adding that Sony will continue supporting the development team as it builds upon the foundation established during its early seasons while also working on future incubation projects.
However, Hulst noted that it is still too early to discuss those projects in greater detail.
Sony pledges support for affected employees
The memo concludes by focusing on employees impacted by the layoffs.
Hulst said Sony’s immediate priority is helping affected staff through the transition by providing support services and, where possible, identifying opportunities across Sony Interactive Entertainment and its global network of studios.
He also encouraged remaining employees to support one another during what he described as a difficult period.
The layoffs represent another significant restructuring for Bungie since its acquisition by Sony in 2022. While Sony says the decision was made to better align Bungie’s resources with its long-term goals, the move has raised fresh questions about the future direction of one of PlayStation’s most prominent first-party studios as it continues work on Marathon and future projects.
