This morning,Sonyannounced it is acquiringHalocreator andDestiny 2developer Bungie for $3.6 billion. Many details about this specific deal have since released, including how future Bungie titles will remain multi-platform, how PlayStation wants to utilizeBungie’s live-service expertise, how this acquisition speeds up Bungie’s plans (likely for other titles alongsideDestiny 2), new TV/film prospects for Bungie, and more.
Some also saw this news as a “response” to Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard, but as deals like these take time, there’s no real way that’s true. Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO Jim Ryan said as much when he confirmed that theBungie acquisitionhad been in the works for months. There is one important similarity though: just as many expectMicrosoft to clean up Activision Blizzard’s workplace culture, there were questions raised about Bungie’s workplace culture too.
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Ryan, as well as Bungie CEO Peter Parsons, recently discussed last year’s IGN report aboutBungie’s workplace culturein an interview with gamesindustry.biz. This report followed how a September announcement from Bungie which sought to establish and reveal several pro-worker company policies, like allowing anonymous HR reporting and ending forced arbitration. IGN spoke to 26 employees that work at Bungie within the last decade, going as far back as 2011 and as recently as 2021, that detailed Bungie’s toxic workplace culture.
Now, it should be stated that these changes are indeed positive, but that does not mean the experiences of these individuals should be neglected either. So, gamesindustry.biz raised the question of if this was a point of concern in the acquisition, with Ryan stating that “this is an area thatSonytakes incredibly seriously. We hold ourselves to extremely high standards throughout the organizations, and with the businesses that we partner.”
On Bungie specifically, Ryan stated that he has been “nothing but impressed, and I have nothing but the highest praise for the way that Bungie organizes and conducts itself. There are a number of areas that Sony can learn from Bungie. Philanthropy is a cornerstone value, and I think that speaks to everything.”
Parsons’ comments also echo Ryan’s, with a focus on growth and a dedication to a “thriving, inclusive environment.” In his own words, he remarks “ We’ve been incredibly transparent with each other with what we’re doing and the challenges we face. We are a 30-year-old company, and we’re continuing to learn, build, and grow. I am extremely proud of the work that we are doing to create a thriving, inclusive environment for people, and we’re going to continue to do that. We will build, learn, and grow, and I think we have a lot to learn from Sony.”
As with all acquisitions, it’ll take some time to see the long play here and determine how these changing elements influence both Bungie and Sony. While many are certain that this means good things forDestiny 2and other Bungie games, it has to be a good thing for the people at Bungie as well.
