It has been reported that Bungie has cancelled a project named Payback, which was an unannounced project set in the Destiny universe. The project was being worked on by Luke Smith, former Destiny 2 game director, and Mark Noseworthy, project lead. The cancellation of Payback seems to have pre-dated the recent layoffs at Bungie, which resulted in both Smith and Noseworthy losing their jobs. Payback was envisioned as a spin-off of the Destiny series, rather than a direct sequel, and it was apparently dropped quite some time ago.
The cancellation of Payback appears to have played a significant role in the departure of Luke Smith and Mark Noseworthy from Bungie. According to sources, the restructuring of the executive team due to the layoffs this week has left no path forward for the pair at Bungie. This news has sent shockwaves through the Destiny community, as both Smith and Noseworthy were key figures in the development of the franchise.
Following the layoffs, it has been revealed that many key members of the team behind Destiny 2’s recent expansion, The Final Shape, have also left Bungie. This includes senior narrative designer Robert Brookes and narrative lead Kwan Perng. The layoffs were not the only changes happening at Bungie, as the company transferred 155 roles to their parent company, Sony Interactive Entertainment. Some of these roles will be working on a new PlayStation studio developing an untitled “action game set in a brand-new science-fantasy universe”.
Despite the setbacks caused by the cancellation of Payback and the layoffs, Bungie remains committed to their ongoing projects. The team still plans to work on the Marathon reboot and continue developing future Destiny projects. Bungie CEO Pete Parsons has acknowledged that the company may have been “over-ambitious” in the past, leading to the recent upheaval. Parsons himself has come under fire for his lavish spending, including purchasing expensive cars amidst layoffs at the company.
In the wake of these events, there has been a growing call for Pete Parsons to step down from his position at Bungie. Laid-off developers and Destiny players alike are urging Parsons to take responsibility for the recent turmoil at the company and make way for new leadership. The fallout from the cancellation of Payback and the subsequent layoffs has left many questioning the future direction of Bungie and the Destiny franchise as a whole.
Overall, the cancellation of Payback and the resulting layoffs at Bungie have had a profound impact on the company and its employees. The future remains uncertain as Bungie navigates these difficult times and strives to move forward with their remaining projects.
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