{"id":922063,"date":"2026-07-09T01:07:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T01:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/922063\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T01:07:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T01:07:13","slug":"sony-settles-with-fired-bungie-dev-adds-him-to-marathon-credits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/922063\/","title":{"rendered":"Sony Settles With Fired Bungie Dev, Adds Him To Marathon Credits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christopher Barrett, a 25-year veteran of Bungie who had sued Sony for $100 million after he was terminated<\/a> by the PlayStation 5 maker following what it claimed was a \u201cpattern of misconduct\u201d related to unwanted messages he exchanged with female employees, has settled his legal dispute with the company. Barrett claimed the termination was a \u201cbreach of contract\u201d to get out of paying him over $80 million that Sony would owe him as a result of its $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie in 2022.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am pleased to share that Sony, Bungie, and I have reached an agreement to resolve the lawsuit,\u201d Barrett posted on X<\/a> on July 8. \u201cThe outcome is one I am very satisfied with, and I am grateful to everyone who stood by me. Closing this chapter allows me to focus my attention on what\u2019s next in my gaming journey, and I look forward to what lies ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also shared a joint statement from the settlement:<\/p>\n

\n

The litigation between Sony Interactive Entertainment, Bungie, and Christopher Barrett has been settled. For 25 years, Mr. Barrett contributed to some of Bungie\u2019s most successful games. Mr. Barrett was the original Game Director for Marathon, and his name has been added to the game\u2019s credits to reflect that.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

After a long chapter, I\u2019m happy to share this update. Thank you to everyone who supported me along the way. pic.twitter.com\/atItWZVEUS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Christopher Barrett (@oryxeleven) July 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Barrett, whose work at Bungie dated back to 1998\u2019s Myth II: Chimera, quietly left Bungie in 2024 in the midst of Marathon\u2018s development. Bloomberg later<\/a> reported he was terminated after an investigation by Sony into text messages he had sent to female employees. \u201cIf anyone ever felt that way about their interaction with me, I am truly sorry,\u201d he said at the time. Months later, he sued<\/a>, claiming Sony\u2019s investigation was a \u201csham\u201d and that his firing was a ploy to avoid paying him the full bonus from the studio\u2019s sale.<\/p>\n

In February 2025, Sony went on the offensive, releasing some of the text messages in question<\/a>. \u201cAre you still in PJs?\u201d read one. \u201c[I]s it like a button down top and bottoms? Sweatpants? Lulu lemons?\u201d In another, he called a female employee the \u201cHoly Grail\u201d and added, \u201cI\u2019m not hitting on you. I hope it doesn\u2019t feel like that. I\u2019m married. But I can be honest. You are the .000001 and better be treated like that forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Barrett\u2019s lawyers fired back that the messages were \u201ccherry-picked.\u201d \u201cIt is telling that Sony does not include the full text messages as exhibits, or the full content of these conversations, and nothing in Sony\u2019s response provides a legitimate legal or factual basis to terminate Christopher for cause,\u201d they told Game File<\/a> at the time.<\/p>\n

While the financial terms of the settlement, if there are any, have not been disclosed, Barrett\u2019s name being added to the credits of Marathon is clearly a vindication for him in the case. It comes after Bungie itself has just experienced one of the worst mass layoffs<\/a> in its history following the end of Destiny 2. While new seasonal content for Marathon will continue, at least through this year; the rest of the studio\u2019s future after losing nearly 300 staff is far from clear.<\/p>\n