By Sagar V. Mankar 
Sony has strongly countered allegations made by former Bungie developer Christopher Barrett in a detailed 128-page legal response, as reported by Stephen Totilo of Game File.
The company’s filing addresses Barrett’s December lawsuit, which claimed his termination was a “sham” and designed to avoid paying him over $45 million in acquisition-related compensation.
Now, according to the court documents, Sony has presented specific evidence to support their position, including nine separate text communications that allegedly show Barrett’s “pattern of misconduct” toward female employees at Bungie. The company’s legal filing details incidents where Barrett reportedly engaged in concerning behavior with junior female staff members.
“Barrett targeted a lower-level, female employee he wasn’t working with directly, initially engaged in friendly conversation, and progressively pushed boundaries,” Sony stated in their filing at the Delaware State Court of Chancery. The documents describe situations where Barrett allegedly made inappropriate comments about physical appearance and expressed romantic interest in subordinates.
However, Barrett’s legal team quickly responded to these allegations. In a statement to Game File, his attorneys challenged Sony’s presentation of evidence, arguing that the company “continues to disingenuously cherry pick text messages and alleged conversations.” They maintain that the full context of these communications would reveal no legitimate basis for termination.
Barrett’s initial lawsuit included allegations about broader workplace issues at Bungie, including claims about inappropriate behavior by other executives. Barrett claims that he was scapegoated for Bungie’s overall struggle following the PlayStation acquisition in 2022.
Sony’s response to these wider allegations has been notably measured, with their legal team stating they lack sufficient information to address these claims.
The dispute continues to unfold in the Delaware State Court of Chancery, with both parties taking firm positions.