Sony president wants Bungie to be better at ‘assuming accountability for development timelines’

Sony president and PlayStation chairman Hiroki Totoki has said Bungie could be better at assuming responsibility for its development timelines.

During a Q&A session following Sony’s latest financial results briefing, Totoki was asked for an update on Bungie, and whether he had any initiatives planned for the studio in the next financial year.

Totoki replied that while he was impressed by Bungie’s ability as a video game developer, he felt it could make improvements from a business perspective.

“I visited the Bungie studios and had meetings with [the] management,” he said, “and I saw that employees working at the studios were highly motivated, showing great creativity as well as an impressive knowledge of live services.

“However, I also felt that there was room for improvement from a business perspective with regard to areas such as the use of business expenses and assuming accountability for development timelines. I hope to continue the dialogue and come up with some good solutions.”

When Totoki originally answered this question last week, the live English translation provided by Sony referred to PlayStation studios in general.

However, Sony has now released a new official translation, which it says “is intended to replace the simultaneous translation of the question and answer session previously provided”, and this new translation refers to Bungie specifically.

It was reported in December that Bungie’s position as an independent subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is under threat.

When the PlayStation maker announced its intention to acquire the Destiny studio in 2022, it said Bungie would “continue to operate independently, maintaining the ability to self-publish and reach players wherever they choose to play”.

However, an IGN report stated that the company’s board structure is contingent on Bungie hitting certain financial goals, and if it fails to do so Sony can reportedly choose to dissolve the existing board and assume full control of the company.

Last October, Bungie’s staff were reportedly warned that revenue was running at around 45% below projections for the year, which was said to have been attributed to poor player retention for Destiny 2.

Struggling to meet its targets and with the threat of a potential Sony takeover looming, Bungie’s leadership reportedly embarked on a wide-ranging cost-cutting plan that saw 100 of the studio’s 1,200 employees laid off.

Further reading

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Bungie’s position as an independent Sony subsidiary is reportedly under threat

Sony could take complete control of the studio if it fails to meet financial targets, it's claimed

Bungie officially delayed upcoming Destiny 2 expansion The Final Shape in November. Originally given a February 27, 2024 release date, The Final Shape will now launch on June 4.

Totoki assumed the role of chairman of SIE last October, ahead of CEO Jim Ryan’s retirement, and will act as interim CEO from April 1, so he will be taking a more hands-on approach with the company’s games division.