Bungie begins its integration with Sony following a second round of layoffs. Key staff and directors transition to Sony to support PlayStation’s live service initiatives and Bungie projects.
In the past year, Bungie has seen significant internal changes, having gone through two rounds of layoffs that have impacted hundreds of employees. The first round of cuts came in October 2023, impacting around 8% of the company.
Fast forward to July 2024, and Bungie CEO, Pete Parsons, announced a second round of layoffs, affecting around 220 staff members. In a blog post, Parsons shared that the company was working closely with its parent company, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), to help soften the blow.
“We are deepening our integration with Sony Interactive Entertainment, working to integrate 155 of our roles, roughly 12%, into SIE over the next few quarters,” Parsons stated.
Bungie’s Integration With Sony PlayStation
Now, three months later, the effects of this integration are becoming more apparent. Since September 2024, several Bungie employees have announced their move to Sony. As of now, some of the key departments impacted by this shift include marketing, HR, art, IT, and production. These transitions from Bungie to Sony will continue to support Bungie’s projects while also supporting other PlayStation studios.
Two prominent Bungie directors have also made their move to Sony. Adam Glogower, previously the Director of Total Rewards at Bungie, announced his new role as Director of Total Rewards at Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Similarly, Joseph Biwald, Marketing Art Director at Bungie, has joined Sony PlayStation as Art Director. While now part of Sony, Biwald will still play a crucial role in supporting Bungie’s work on Destiny and the upcoming Marathon project.
“As Art Director, I will play a central role in enhancing and expanding Sony Interactive Entertainment Live Service creative capabilities, while continuing to collaborate closely with the Bungie team to produce marketing art for Destiny, and eventually, Marathon,” Biwald announced on his LinkedIn profile.
This isn’t the first time Bungie leadership has transitioned to Sony. Before the announcement of the second round of layoffs, former Bungie CTO Luis Villegas and Managing Director Jaremy Rich revealed they were joining Sony Interactive Entertainment, where they will continue supporting Bungie as well as other PlayStation studios.
