Former Marathon director Chris Barrett settles a lawsuit against Bungie and Sony over allegations of misconduct.
Chris Barrett, previously dismissed by Bungie in 2024 following allegations of inappropriate conduct toward female employees, sued the companies for damaging his reputation. The lawsuit claimed that Bungie and Sony insinuated Barrett's involvement in sexual misconduct to avoid paying a $45 million bonus. Barrett's legal team argued that Bungie acted out of self-interest to divert attention from business failures. The lawsuit was dismissed in December 2025 due to a lack of jurisdiction over monetary damages.
In a social media statement, Barrett expressed satisfaction with the outcome, allowing him to focus on future gaming endeavors. The financial terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, with Barrett's name now included in Marathon's credits. Bungie recently downsized its workforce, affecting 292 employees, including members of the Destiny and Marathon teams. The decision was made to realign resources with the studio's long-term goals after evaluating development priorities and resource needs.
