Sony Addresses $200M Wrongful Termination Lawsuit from Bungie Veteran Barrett

Sony has finally broken its silence on the lawsuit brought by former Bungie employee Christopher Barrett.

In a recent court document, highlighted by Game File, Sony revealed a series of text messages between Barrett and female colleagues at Bungie. Sony claims these messages showcase a troubling “pattern of misconduct.”

Barrett left Bungie in March 2024, with subsequent reports suggesting his exit was due to allegations of inappropriate behavior towards female employees. In response, Barrett filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination, seeking $200 million in damages. He claims his dismissal cost him $45 million tied to Sony’s acquisition of Bungie in 2022.

In its legal defense, Sony reiterated that Barrett was terminated due to his behavior towards a female employee he wasn’t directly working with. They claim he began with friendly conversations that escalated into crossing professional boundaries, making comments about her appearance and suggesting romantic interest.

The filing also includes snippets from the texts and messages Barrett allegedly sent.

Barrett’s legal team fired back, accusing Sony of selectively presenting these messages and making baseless claims to justify his dismissal and avoid financial obligations outlined in his employment contract. They criticize Sony for not providing full conversations as evidence.

Barrett’s lawyers expressed confidence that complete evidence would reveal what they believe to be Sony’s strategy to unfairly remove him from his position and strip him of the benefits earned during his 25-year tenure with the company.