Bungie and Sony have reached an undisclosed settlement with the former director of Marathon in a legal dispute

Chris Barrett, who previously headed the Marathon project, has resolved his legal dispute with Bungie and Sony relating to charges of improper behavior. In 2024, Bungie terminated Barrett's employment after probing claims of his inappropriate actions concerning female colleagues.

Following his dismissal, Barrett initiated a lawsuit against the companies, alleging they tarnished his reputation by falsely suggesting an inquiry had confirmed his involvement in misconduct, which he argued was to circumvent a $45 million payment. His lawyers contended that the allegations were disregarded by Bungie, who allegedly used Barrett as a scapegoat to divert from corporate shortcomings.

The legal case was eventually thrown out in December 2025 due to "lack of jurisdiction" concerning financial claims. Barrett recently expressed his satisfaction with the case's resolution on social media, stating it enables him to concentrate on future projects within the gaming industry.

Confidential terms govern the settlement, but an official document confirms Barrett's inclusion in Marathon's credits. Meanwhile, Bungie recently announced the dismissal of 292 employees, affecting primarily the Destiny 2 development team as its production reaches its conclusion.

Hermen Hulst, CEO of the SIE studio business group, acknowledged the impact on those whose positions were cut, underscoring the difficult nature of the decision. The reduction was the outcome of comprehensive deliberations regarding the studio's future, development focus, and strategic role, ultimately deemed necessary for aligning resources with objectives. Hulst emphasized that various options were explored before arriving at the decision.