As a gamer who has followed Bungie’s journey since the early days of Halo, it’s disheartening to see such a legendary studio grappling with workplace issues yet again. I remember spending countless hours on those iconic battlefields, the camaraderie forged between teammates echoing through my headset, and the sense of achievement when we finally took down that elusive boss. The thought that some of those behind those games were creating a toxic environment for their colleagues tarnishes that nostalgia.
Bungie, a leading name in the video game development sector, made headlines on Wednesday as it announced Chris Barrett‘s departure amid allegations of inappropriate conduct by multiple female team members.
In March, Barrett unexpectedly departed from Bungie with minimal details given. At that point, he held the position as head of their latest venture, Marathon. This move followed a highly prosperous stint with the company where he climbed his way up from an artist to a director on games within the renowned Halo and Destiny series. He was also a board member during Bungie’s acquisition by Sony in 2022 for $3.6 billion.
Jason Schreier, from Bloomberg, shared news based on information he received from his sources. According to his findings, Barrett engaged in behaviors such as complimenting lower-level female employees on their attractiveness, proposing truth-or-dare games, and showcasing his wealth and influence within the gaming industry. During the investigation’s interviews, these advances were described as “unwanted” and those involved felt “uneasy due to Barrett’s greater power in the company.” Schreier’s report also mentioned text messages containing “flirtatious comments” and invitations for social gatherings.
Over the years, Bungie has encountered challenges related to their company culture. In fact, during 2021, allegations arose claiming that the HR departments at the organization failed to address inappropriate conduct among its employees.
The video game industry persists in grappling with misconduct issues within workplaces, as companies like Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, and Riot Games have encountered legal challenges following allegations over the past few years. Notably, Activision and Riot agreed to pay hefty settlements totaling $55 million and $100 million respectively, in resolution of lawsuits filed against them.
Various sectors are undergoing a vote or decision regarding influential figures misconducting towards employees at workplaces. The recent action taken by Bungie, dismissing Chris Barrett, aligns with this movement and the aim to establish a more secure work environment for everyone.
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2024-08-30 18:27