Former Bungie director Christopher Barrett, who was fired from the studio over allegations involving inappropriate behavior, has reached a lawsuit settlement with Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Barrett took to Twitter/X to share a statement, revealing that the legal dispute had been resolved through an agreement with Bungie and parent company Sony Interactive Entertainment. While the financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed, he mentioned he was pleased with the outcome and was ready to move on. “I am pleased to share that Sony, Bungie, and I have reached an agreement to resolve the lawsuit,” he said.
The former Bungie director added that the resolution allows him to focus on the future of his career. “The outcome is one I am very satisfied with, and I am grateful to everyone who stood by me,” he stated. “Closing this chapter allows me to focus my attention on what’s next in my gaming journey, and I look forward to what lies ahead.” As part of the agreement, Barrett’s name has been added to Marathon‘s credits as the game’s original director.
The lawsuit, filed in later 2024, sought approximately 200 million US Dollars in damages. Barrett alleged that Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bungie had wrongfully terminated his employment in order to avoid paying him a 45 million US Dollar retention bonus tied to the company’s 3.6 billion US Dollar acquisition of Bungie in 2022. He claimed that the companies had acted in bad faith by removing him before the bonus became payable.
Barrett’s termination followed a controversial internal investigation detailed by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier in August, 2024, according to which at least eight female employees raised complaints alleging that former director had engaged in inappropriate workplace behavior. The investigation reportedly found that he made comments about lower-level female employees’ appearances, invited them to play truth-or-dare, and referenced his wealth and influence within Bungie while suggesting he could help advance their careers. He allegedly developed relationships with women across various departments before sending messages that blurred professional boundaries. Bungie didn’t publicly disclose the specifics behind its decision, while Barrett later denied wrongdoing as part of his legal challenge.
