Sony refutes allegations that it tarnished a former director's reputation, asserting that the individual was involved in "consistent misconduct"

Sony is countering allegations by former Marathon reboot director Chris Barrett, asserting its probes revealed a pattern of misconduct where Barrett allegedly targeted female employees not directly under his supervision. According to Sony, he would begin with friendly interactions, gradually pushing the limits by discussing his financial status and offering to aid their careers.

Last December, Barrett initiated legal proceedings against both Bungie and Sony, accusing them of tarnishing his reputation with false public accusations of sexual misconduct. He also claims this was part of an attempt to withhold a $45 million payment from him.

Barrett was dismissed by Bungie the previous year after an internal review uncovered purported inappropriate conduct towards female staff. His attorneys allege that his former employer acted with ulterior motives, supposedly aiming to divert scrutiny away from their significant business shortcomings.

Reported by Stephen Totilo of Game File, Sony has provided a formal response to Barrett's litigation claims.

Sony's findings claim Barrett's behavior involved cultivating unprofessional intimacy with female employees through social media engagements, initiating conversations about their appearance or romantic interest, and pushing personal topics such as their relationships or his marriage. He allegedly proposed games with sexual overtones and initiated unchecked contact through texts, sometimes offering gifts.

These actions reportedly led employees to seek advice on handling Barrett's persistent behavior, with several expressing fears for their job security to Human Resources during the inquiry.

In light of these assertions, Barrett's legal team states: "Sony selectively extracts messages and conversation snippets to malign Christopher and rationalize his dismissal, neglecting to present complete evidence. Their response lacks a valid legal foundation to justify his termination for cause."

Barrett believes that a full presentation of the evidence will demonstrate Sony's alleged intention to remove him from his position and withhold the equity benefits he accrued over a quarter of a century at the company.