After more than two decades, Pete Parsons is stepping away from Bungie, closing a chapter that defined both his career and the studio’s turbulent history. 
Parsons, who took the reins as CEO in 2016, guided Bungie through a split from Activision, the controversial Sony acquisition, and some of the most difficult years the company has faced.
His tenure was marked by big swings: Bungie’s independence bid, the $3.7 billion Sony deal, and the ongoing struggle to keep Destiny 2 thriving. But it was also shadowed by cultural issues, layoffs, and delayed projects. While Parsons apologized for Bungie’s slow response to workplace concerns, players and developers alike often criticized him for failing to protect the soul of the studio.
Under his watch, Bungie laid off hundreds of staff between 2023 and 2024, even as its flagship expansion, The Final Shape, found success. The company’s other big project, Marathon, slipped further into uncertainty with another delay. Meanwhile, many fans felt Bungie had squandered its once-unshakable goodwill, leaving them disillusioned with a studio once synonymous with innovation.
Now Bungie faces the future under Justin Truman, a 15-year veteran who started as a developer on Destiny 1 and most recently served as chief development officer. Truman inherits a smaller, wearier team and a community divided over Bungie’s direction. Sony’s oversight looms larger than ever, and many fear Bungie has traded its independence for a corporate safety net that might not hold.
Parsons departs with wealth and legacy intact, but leaves behind a studio many fans believe is a shadow of its former self. For some, Bungie’s golden era ended with Halo; for others, the decline has been a slow unraveling. What’s certain is that Bungie, once the crown jewel of console shooters, now faces one of its most uncertain futures yet.
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bungie really might be the dumbest $4billion sony ever spent lmao