By Sagar V. Mankar 
Chris Barrett, a 25-year Bungie veteran and former Marathon game director, has filed a lawsuit seeking over $200 million in damages from Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bungie, alleging wrongful termination and defamation.
Barrett’s 82-page lawsuit outlines several accusations, including violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Washington Rebate Act (WRA).
Key Claims
- Barrett alleges he was fired to avoid a $45 million payment owed under his employment agreement
- He claims the misconduct investigation was a “sham” used to create cause for termination
- The lawsuit alleges the firing was partly motivated to deflect attention from Bungie’s broader business challenges
- Barrett denies allegations of inappropriate behavior toward female employees
Financial Details
- Barrett’s compensation package included approximately 2.5% ownership in Bungie
- The lawsuit seeks $100 million in defamation damages
- Additional claims exceed $90 million for retention agreements and other compensation
Background Context
- Barrett joined Bungie in 1999, working on major franchises including Halo and Destiny
- Sony acquired Bungie for $3.6 billion in 2022
- Prior to his termination, Barrett was moved from Marathon director to “franchise game director”
- He was fired in March 2024 after requesting mental health leave
- Joe Ziegler replaced Barrett as Marathon director
Neither Sony nor Bungie has responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit. The case comes amid broader restructuring at Bungie, which recently laid off 220 staff members and has reportedly struggled to meet financial targets post-acquisition.
The lawsuit alleges that Sony and Bungie used Barrett as a scapegoat to shift attention from internal challenges, including missed deadlines, financial underperformance, and allegations of workplace misconduct.
Source: The Game File