Following the replacement of Chris Barrett as director of the Marathon reboot earlier this year, a new report claims that the veteran developer was fired by Bungie following an internal investigation into inappropriate behavior.
The company fired Barrett this spring after “at least eight” female employees accused him of inappropriate behavior, Bloomberg reported.
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The report said Barrett befriended women from different departments at the studio and sent them “numerous text messages that blurred the lines between professional and personal.”
The report cites Bungie’s investigation, which found that the developer “described lower-level female employees as attractive, asked them to play Truth or Dare, and referenced his wealth and power within the studio, suggesting he could help advance their careers.” Bloomberg also claims that Bungie employees were unaware of Barrett’s departure, with some developers on the Marathon team reportedly told he was “on leave” and later discovered his company account had been disabled.
“I feel that I have always acted with integrity and have been respectful and supportive of my colleagues, many of whom I consider my closest friends,” Barrett said in an interview with Bloomberg. “I have never viewed my communications as unnecessary or thought they made anyone feel uncomfortable. If anyone has felt that way in their interactions with me, I am truly sorry.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Sony Interactive Entertainment told the publication that the company takes “all complaints of misconduct very seriously,” adding that its policy is to investigate any complaints “promptly” and then take action based on the findings.
Former Valorant game director Joe Ziegler confirmed that he had taken over the same position on Marathon in March, and a report from IGN states that the change comes amid a shakeup in Bungie’s creative leadership. Bungie announced 220 layoffs in late July, noting that Marathon and Destiny 2 were the developer’s two main focuses right now, with CEO Pete Parsons stressing that the key is “ensuring both projects are of the quality that players expect and deserve.”
