Top Bungie Executive Reportedly Sacked For Abusing Female Coworkers

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.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I have witnessed the rise and fall of many industry titans. From the humble beginnings of Bungie’s Christopher Barrett as an artist to his meteoric rise through projects like Destiny, Myth, Halo, and most recently Marathon, it’s hard not to be impressed by his resume. However, recent allegations have tarnished that shine.


As reported by Bloomberg, Christopher Barrett has recently been terminated from his position at Bungie, following a tenure of 25 years. It’s said that several female colleagues made accusations against Barrett for instances of sexual harassment and inappropriate remarks.

With a solid background in the field, Barrett initially joined the company as an artist. He rose to prominence through notable projects including Destiny, Myth, and Halo, ultimately assuming the role of executive director.

More recently, he spearheaded the revival of a long-dormant game called Marathon, which has enjoyed renewed popularity following a hiatus of nearly 26 years.

Unexpectedly in March, he chose to leave the project, handing over complete control to Joe Ziegler. This decision took everyone by surprise, as it came at a time when Barrett was highly respected and admired across the wider community.

An Abuse Of His Powers

Top Bungie Executive Reportedly Sacked For Abusing Female Coworkers

It turned out that during the first quarter of 2024, Barrett was facing an internal inquiry due to allegations made by at least eight female colleagues. They claimed he had misused his position to pursue romantic relationships with them.

Critics allege that Barrett initially became friendly with them, exchanged contact information, and subsequently sent them messages with a romantic undertone.

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

Several women within the company mentioned that it seemed obligatory for them to socialize with him due to his high position.

Typically, the skilled filmmaker rejected all claims, mainly brushing them off as unintentional errors.

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

I’ve consistently acted with honesty and kindness towards my colleagues, some of whom I hold as dear friends. I never intended for my communications to be unwelcome or to cause discomfort. If someone felt uncomfortable in our interactions, I genuinely apologize.

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

Bungie has been facing a variety of challenges with their main game, Destiny 2. Additionally, there have been significant problems with their collaboration partner, Sony, and a wave of job cuts over the past year.

Due to recent developments, it appears that the release of Marathon may need to be pushed back to 2025. Considering the ongoing events, there’s a good chance the game might not be fully completed when it becomes available for purchase.

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2024-08-29 18:08