According to a report, Bungie has terminated Chris Barrett, the former director of the Marathon reboot, due to alleged misconduct.

Chris Barrett, who previously directed the reboot of "Marathon," was dismissed by Bungie earlier this year after an investigation into alleged inappropriate conduct towards female employees, as reported by Bloomberg. The investigation revealed claims from eight women at the company, who mentioned that Barrett sent excessive text messages that blurred boundaries between work and personal life.

Several women expressed that Barrett's behavior was unwelcome and they felt uneasy due to his higher rank within the organization. Bungie employees were reportedly not informed about the specific reasons for Barrett's exit, with some Marathon team members being told by management that he had gone on a sabbatical.

Barrett addressed the allegations in a statement to Bloomberg, asserting, "I have always conducted myself with integrity and been respectful and supportive of my colleagues." He added, "I never understood my communications to be unwanted and I would have never thought they could possibly have made anyone feel uncomfortable. If anyone ever felt that way about their interaction with me, I am truly sorry."

Sony Interactive Entertainment, Bungie's parent company, commented without referencing Barrett's case, stressing its policy of rigorously investigating every misconduct claim and acting based on the investigation's findings.

Earlier, in 2021, IGN reported accounts from 26 present and past Bungie employees regarding issues of sexism, racism, and systemic discrimination. Following those revelations, CEO Pete Parsons indicated that leaders involved in such abuse had been removed or left the company, emphasizing that any new information, whether from this report or future disclosures, would be thoroughly investigated.