Summary
Destiny 2players are refunding theirFinal Shapepreorders in protest of the news regarding Bungie in the past few days.Several former Bungie staff membersfrom multiple departments like art, audio, QA, and the community team revealed on Monday that the company had laid them off. Then, it was reported that the concluding chapter of the Light vs. Darkness saga,The Final Shape, would be delayed to June 2024, almost four months after it was scheduled to be released.
The layoffs and delay had fans of the series guessing that this was a result of the company’s acquisition by Sony, as several of its studios, such as Naughty Dog, Visual Arts, and Media Molecule, were downsized in recent weeks. However, Forbes’ Paul Tassi confirmed via an internal source thatBungie management was responsible for the decision. This announcement shocked players as several prominent employees like Michael Salvatori, a longtime composer for the company; Community Manager and Co-Lead of Accessibility, Liana Ruppert; and Lorraine Mclees, a Bungie veteran who designed the Halo logo, were affected. A central sticking point that did not sit right for most fans is that by terminating employees at the end of the month, they would lose access to some benefits, excluding healthcare, as that would last for three months. Additionally, Forbes reported that several severed roles may now be outsourced.
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With all these emerging reports, players began posting on social media that they had refunded their orders ofThe Final Shape. One user, going by the handle Eigenspace, posted on theDestinysubreddit saying that Steam had granted a refund for the expansion because it was not only delayed but might not meet a certain quality level the player would expect. Over on Twitter, DTM, a popularDestiny 2meme account, tweeted that several fans had reportedly canceled their preorders, with others in comments corroborating and posting screenshots of their refunded orders.
LowFinal Shapepreorders were a contributing factor to the layoffs,according to IGN, in addition toDestiny 2’s declining player count over the past few months. Valentine’s article also revealed that employees were asking management for months to make several changes toDestiny 2in an effort to bring fans back to the game and boost player sentiment.
With these emerging reports from IGN, Bloomberg, and Forbes, fans are posting on social media that they feel betrayed as well by Bungie management. By canceling preorders ofThe Final Shape, they hope this form of protest will have some positive effect in letting the upper echelon of the company know that they are not happy.
The delay ofThe Final Shapenow means that Season 23 ofDestiny 2will be extended by 6-7 months. Previously, when this happened, players were burnt out with the lack of content, but now, with an already low player count and an unhappy fanbase, a longer season does not bode well for the future ofDestiny 2despite the many planned changes.
Destiny 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Dive into the world of Destiny 2 to explore the mysteries of the solar system and experience responsive first-person shooter combat. Unlock powerful elemental abilities and collect unique gear to customize your Guardian’s look and playstyle. Enjoy Destiny 2’s cinematic story, challenging co-op missions, and a variety of PvP modes alone or with friends. Download for free today and write your legend in the stars.An Immersive StoryYou are a Guardian, defender of the Last City of humanity in a solar system under siege by infamous villains. Look to the stars and stand against the darkness. Your legend begins now.Guardian ClassesChoose from the armored Titan, mystic Warlock, or swift Hunter.
