Top Bungie Executive Reportedly Sacked For Abusing Female Coworkers

Key Takeaways

Christopher Barrett was accused of sexual harassment by at least eight female employees.
The accusers said Bungie’s director sent them flirtatious messages and asked them to hang out.
Allegations caused Barrett to step down from Marathon project, which is likely connected to the game’s delays.

According to Bloomberg, Christopher Barrett was just laid off from Bungie after being with the company for 25 years. Allegedly, several female employees accused Barrett of sexual harassment and inappropriate comments.

The industry veteran had humble beginnings, starting as the company’s artist. Barrett had his breakthrough with projects such as Destiny, Myth, and Halo, where he took the mantle of executive director.

Most recently, he was the lead behind Marathon, an old title that was given a new lease on life after 26 years.

Then, out of the blue in March this year, he stepped down from the project, giving Joe Ziegler the full reign. The move was met with disbelief, especially because Barrett was well-loved within the broader circles.

An Abuse Of His Powers

What we didn’t know is that Barrett was under internal investigation throughout early 2024. At least eight female employees accused him of abusing his power to get intimate with them.

The accusers claim Barret would befriend them and exchange numbers, after which he would send them flirtatious messages.

He would also mention his wealth, which caused a financial imbalance between the two parties.

Many female colleagues said they almost felt forced to spend time with him, given that he was one of the company’s higher-ups.

As it usually goes, the accomplished director denied all the accusations, for the most part dismissing them as inadvertent mistakes.

Here is what Barrett had to say about the whole ordeal:

I feel that I have always conducted myself with integrity and been respectful and supportive of my colleagues, many of whom I consider my closest friends. I never understood my communications to be unwanted and I would have never thought they could possibly have made anyone feel uncomfortable. If anyone ever felt that way about their interaction with me, I am truly sorry.

The entire situation came at the most inopportune time for the company.

Bungie is experiencing numerous struggles with its flagship product, Destiny 2. We also can’t neglect the issues with their partner, Sony, and numerous layoffs in the last year or so.

The main fallout of this situation is that Marathon will likely be delayed until 2025. Given everything that has been happening, don’t be surprised if the game is half-done when it hits the shelves.