Sony Criticizes Bungie’s Management

Sony President Hiroki Totoki recently visited Bungie studios, where he expressed concerns about the company’s budget management and timelines. This comes after a series of challenges for Bungie, including layoffs, declining player counts in Destiny 2, missed revenue projections, and a delayed expansion. Totoki praised the creativity and dedication of Bungie employees but emphasized the need for improvement in business practices.

Totoki’s visit and comments suggest that Sony, which acquired Bungie in 2022, is closely monitoring the studio’s performance. During a Q&A session, Totoki highlighted the importance of managing business expenses and adhering to development timelines. He stated, “I visited the Bungie studios and had meetings with management. I saw that employees working at the studios were highly motivated, showing great creativity as well as an impressive knowledge of live services. However, I also felt that there was room for improvement from a business perspective with regard to areas such as the use of business expenses and assuming accountability for development timelines.”

The criticism from Totoki comes at a challenging time for Bungie, as Destiny 2 has faced several setbacks. The game has delayed its last three expansions, resulting in longer final seasons and potentially reducing revenue. The most recent delay was significant enough to prevent the release of a planned 30th Anniversary Pack. Additionally, other Bungie projects, such as Marathon, have faced delays, with no clear timelines for release.

The financial impact of these delays is evident, as Bungie reportedly missed its revenue projections by 45% following the release of the Lightfall expansion. The high costs of running a live service like Destiny 2 have also been a concern, with Microsoft citing Bungie’s high “burn rate” in acquisition documents. This has raised questions about the studio’s financial sustainability and its ability to deliver new content.

Despite these challenges, Totoki’s comments suggest that Sony is committed to working with Bungie to address these issues. He stated, “I hope to continue the dialogue and come up with some good solutions.” This indicates that Sony is interested in finding ways to improve Bungie’s business practices and ensure the studio’s long-term success.

In response to Totoki’s comments, the Destiny 2 community has expressed mixed reactions. While some acknowledge the need for improvement in Bungie’s management, others have defended the studio’s efforts, citing the dedication of individual developers. It remains to be seen how Bungie will address these criticisms and whether Sony’s involvement will lead to significant changes in the studio’s operations.

Overall, Sony’s scrutiny of Bungie’s budget management and timelines reflects the challenges faced by the gaming industry. As studios strive to deliver complex and engaging experiences, managing costs and meeting deadlines are crucial for long-term success. Sony’s involvement with Bungie highlights the importance of effective business practices in the ever-evolving world of gaming.