Bungie Losing Autonomy: Destiny Developer Set to Increase Integration within PlayStation
In a significant move, Sony is expanding its reach beyond its own console and PC platforms with the upcoming release of Helldivers 2 on Xbox in August 2025. This decision marks a growing interest by Sony in broadening its horizons, as the publisher continues to integrate Bungie, the studio behind the Destiny franchise, into PlayStation Studios.
Initially, after Sony's $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie in 2022, the studio operated as an independent subsidiary. However, over the past three years, Sony has been progressively dissolving Bungie's independence. Sony Chief Financial Officer Lin Tao confirmed that structural reforms have reduced that independence, and Bungie is now "shifting into a role which is becoming more a part of PlayStation Studios."
Integration into PlayStation Studios is proceeding gradually without a publicly specified timeline, but the goal is for Bungie to be fundamentally part of Sony's first-party game development ecosystem, similar to studios like Naughty Dog or Guerrilla. This shift follows difficulties within Bungie, including significant layoffs and declining player engagement with Destiny 2 expansions, which may have prompted Sony to exert more direct oversight.
Analysts and community discussions indicate that Sony is moving away from offering Bungie full creative independence and is taking a more centralized governance approach consistent with other PlayStation Studios. Despite this shift, Bungie's titles will likely always remain available on Xbox hardware, even as the studio becomes more closely aligned with PlayStation.
Bungie's upcoming game, Marathon, is confirmed to be released on Xbox and PC in addition to PlayStation. However, the game has faced backlash for its visual direction, and Bungie has since removed stolen assets from the game and scaled back its marketing while addressing community concerns.
Sony's strategy is shifting towards supporting platforms it once overlooked, including Xbox. This shift in strategy is particularly noticeable in the case of live-service titles. The release of Helldivers 2 on Xbox was pushed by Sony, as confirmed by Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani.
Despite the changes, Bungie's shift towards PlayStation Studios is unlikely to impact its presence on Xbox. There is no indication of a pullback for Bungie's titles, including Destiny, on Xbox hardware. Bungie's CEO, Pete Parsons, has faced criticism for his personal expenses, spending $2.4 million on classic cars since the Sony buyout.
In conclusion, Bungie is no longer operating as an independent subsidiary after about three years under Sony's ownership but is instead being progressively folded into the PlayStation Studios family with reduced autonomy, aligning Bungie’s future more directly with Sony’s strategic and developmental goals.
[1] https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2025-02-15-bungie-is-no-longer-an-independent-studio-says-sony-cfo [2] https://www.ign.com/articles/bungie-is-no-longer-an-independent-studio-sony-cfo [3] https://www.polygon.com/22752388/bungie-is-no-longer-an-independent-studio-sony-cfo [4] https://www.vg247.com/2025/02/15/bungie-is-no-longer-an-independent-studio-sony-cfo
- Microsoft, with its extensive line of hardware like the Xbox Series X and Surface devices, might be considering collaborating with Bungie, the studio now under Sony's umbrella, given Sony's recent expansion of Helldivers 2 to Xbox.
- Despite being primarily known for its gaming consoles, Microsoft's Edge browser and Windows operating system could potentially benefit from technology developments at Bungie, especially considering the shift in openness to cross-platform collaborations.
- As Sony's $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie in 2022 began dissolving the studio's independence, Microsoft's PC platform might align as an alternative destination for future Bungie games, especially those like Marathon, which are confirmed to be released on multiple platforms.
- The technology sector, including gadget manufacturers like Microsoft, could be interested in Bungie's progress updates and potential hardware collaborations, given its transition into a more centrally governed studio under PlayStation.
- Apart from critical concerns over Bungie's CEO's personal spending, Microsoft's PC gaming community may face varying opinions regarding the impact of Sony's increased involvement on Bungie's titles, such as Destiny, available on Xbox.
- The future of gaming could see increased collaboration among industry giants like Sony, Microsoft, and Bungie, especially in the realm of live-service titles, as evidenced by the upcoming release of Helldivers 2 on Xbox, a decision driven by Sony to expand its technology footprint.
