Destiny 2's Game Director, Joe Blackburn, announces his departure from the company next month. Read on to learn about Blackburn's resignation and who will replace him as the game's director.
Destiny 2 Game Director Leaves Bungie Next Month
Halo Mission Designer Tyson Green to Step In as Game Director
Multiplayer FPS Destiny 2 will be seeing a change in leadership as its director, Joe Blackburn, announced that he is leaving Bungie next month. Blackburn took to Twitter to share the news and express his gratitude to the Destiny 2 team and fans.
The Destiny 2 team will begin the internal playtesting of the upcoming expansion, The Final Shape, next month, said Blackburn. "Next month, The Final Shape will be hitting one of its most critical internal milestones: a ritual we call the End-to-End playtest.
This ritual has been a key part of development since Forsaken."
Blackburn fondly looked at the "ritual" as it will be his last to take part in prior to stepping down from his role and leaving Bungie altogether. "This ritual will be especially meaningful to me personally, as it will also serve as a moment to pass the torch of Destiny 2 Game Director to the next era of leadership as I head on a new adventure outside the walls of Bungie."
Blackburn also revealed that Halo mission designer Tyson Green will be the next Destiny 2 game director. "As we hit End-to-End next month, Tyson Green will take the reins as D2 Game Director. If you’ve followed Bungie for any length of time, you've heard his name. From Halo PvP to the creation of Exotic weapons in D1, Tyson has been a critical part of Bungie's legacy since Myth II," stated Blackburn.
Destiny 2 Director Receives Heartfelt Send-Off from Fans
Discontent among Destiny 2's player base and interest in the game had reportedly been nosediving. Blackburn's resignation follows a challenging period for both the company and the Destiny franchise. In October 2023, the company laid off approximately 100 employees.
The layoffs were attributed to various factors, including the underperformance of Destiny 2. Likewise, the upcoming expansion The Final Shape, delayed months further to June 4, was reported to have run 45% below sales projections for the year.
Despite the difficulties, Blackburn enjoyed a positive reputation among fans, with many expressing appreciation for his contributions to the Destiny series. One fan grieved his departure from the company, saying Blackburn was "literally the only thing keeping my hope for the game post final shape alive!"
Blackburn plans to take a "big break" from social media, but will keep in touch with fans through the game. "I've still got some time before I pass the torch, but as I look forward to taking a big break from social media, I know I'll see yall around the Tower. It is going to be great to play Destiny alongside all of you."
Source
Destiny 2’s game director is leaving Bungie next month.
