Chris Barrett was replaced as director of the Marathon reboot project earlier this year, and a new report claims the veteran developer was fired by Bungie following an internal investigation into misconduct.
Barrett was fired from the studio this spring after “at least eight” female employees at the studio were accused of inappropriate behavior, according to Bloomberg.
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The report said Barrett befriended women in different parts of the studio and sent them “a series of text messages that blurred the lines between professional and personal.”
It cited a Bungie investigation that found the developer “called lower-level female employees attractive, asked them to play truth or dare, and mentioned his wealth and power within the studio, suggesting he could help advance their careers. Bloomberg also claimed that Bungie staff were not aware of the circumstances behind Barrett’s departure, with some developers on the Marathon team said to have been told he was “on leave” and later discovered that his company account had been disabled.
“I feel that I have always acted with integrity, respecting and supporting my colleagues, many of whom I consider my closest friends,” Barrett told Bloomberg. “It never occurred to me that they might make anyone feel that way. Uncomfortable and I’m really sorry if anyone feels that way about their interactions with me.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Sony Interactive Entertainment told the publication that the company takes “all complaints of misconduct very seriously,” adding that its policy is to “immediately” investigate any complaints and then take action based on the findings. action.
Former Valorant game director Joe Ziegler confirmed that he took over the same position on Marathon back in March, and an IGN report said the change comes amid a shakeup of Bungie’s creative leadership occurred on the occasion. Bungie announced at the end of July that it would lay off 220 employees, saying that “Marathon” and “Destiny 2” are one of the developer’s two current priorities, and it needs to “ensure that both projects meet the quality that players expect, and the CEO Pete Parsons emphasizes “worth it” as key.
