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One of the longest-running live-service titles in the gaming industry has been Destiny 2, Bungie's 2017 sequel to the original space fantasy looter shooter that's received expansions and content updates across Xbox, PC, and PlayStation for nearly a decade. Now, though, Destiny 2 is coming to an end after a series of disappointing releases, delays, and decisions about its overall direction.
One final content update, Monument of Triumph, is scheduled to release on June 9; when it does, active Destiny 2 development will cease, with Bungie and publisher PlayStation (Sony) keeping the servers on but ultimately moving on from the project. Players fear this could be the end of Destiny as a franchise, and have rallied to surge a Destiny 2 petition while vowing to flood the servers next week.
Naturally, something fans all over desperately want to know is: what happened? What led to Destiny 2's rapid decline, and this sudden and abrupt end? Some believe that the game was largely abandoned for the development of Bungie's new PvP extraction shooter Marathon, and feel bitter about that project as a result.
However, several former Bungie developers have publicly focused their own criticisms on management and leadership at the studio, and have asserted that Marathon shouldn't be the target of the community's ire. One such developer is former Bungie community manager Liana Ruppert, and I think what she's had to say recently is important for fans to read.
"Oh I dunno, maybe listen to when the devs are calling out leadership for their greed? A lot of money didn’t go into Destiny," she replied to one commenter who asked how a large company like Bungie was having trouble putting together the resources to support Destiny 2. "We wouldn’t tank our careers for nothing."
You’re not understanding me. Or what the devs are saying. We’re saying it went into leadership pockets. You should be pissed, but keep the blame where it was. Marathon has way less impact than yall thinkMay 27, 2026
"You’re not understanding me. Or what the devs are saying. We’re saying it went into leadership pockets," she added. "You should be pissed, but keep the blame where it was. Marathon has way less impact than yall think."
She went on to say that she's "been screaming about it for three years and all I got was blacklisted by [former Bungie CEO Pete Parsons]," and that players should "Vote with your wallet and make sure if you’re loud with your frustrations you’re just as loud about what you love."
Parsons is no longer at the developer and has been succeeded by Justin Truman as studio head; Ruppert noted "that influence is still there and takes a long time to root out unfortunately, the cancer was deep."
It's worth noting that comments from Ruppert and other ex-Bungie developers line up with similar criticisms made in 2024 when the studio was beset by significant layoffs after already experiencing cuts in late 2023. Several former workers spoke out against mismanagement and called on Parsons, still CEO at the time, to resign.
While much of the truth will likely always be obscured, statements from former Bungie workers make it pretty clear to me that the greed of the studio's leadership is to blame for the fate of Destiny 2, and potentially Destiny as a series. I'm hopeful for a light at the end of the tunnel for the developer, but with Sony recording a $565 million impairment loss attached to the studio, I can't help but be worried for its future.
How do you feel about the road ahead for Bungie? Will you play Destiny 2 one last time when the Monument of Triumph update comes out? Share your thoughts below.
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