Bungie CEO Pete Parsons has stated that Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) planned acquisition of the Destiny developer will not silence the studio on matters it feels strongly about. The statement is in response to the recent internal email sent to PlayStation staff by CEO Jim Ryan where he urged staff to “respect differences of opinion” regarding abortion rights.
Ryan sent the mail to staff after a leaked document supposedly stated that the US Supreme Court was planning to overturn the historic Roe vs. Wade judgement, which would effectively re-criminalise abortion.
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Bungie has made its stance on reproductive rights clear, unashamedly stating that they are pro-choice and support pro-choice movements.
“The leaked draft decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade represents a blow to freedom in America and is a direct attack on human rights.
Standing up for reproductive choice and liberty is not a difficult decision to make, and Bungie remains dedicated to upholding these values.”
It’s going to really suck if Sony put a muzzle on Bungie in future and stop them from doing actual hero shit like this https://t.co/zTl0dw1QBH pic.twitter.com/tZRrVqk9xn
— Skill Up (@SkillUpYT) May 17, 2022
Skill Up, a prolific YouTube gaming media, stated that “it would be a shame if Sony put a muzzle on Bungie” after the developer tweeted “standing up for reproductive choice and liberty is not a difficult decision to make”. A senior community manager responded to SkillUp’s tweet stating that “there will never be a ‘muzzle’ big enough to stop us from standing up for what’s right”, to which Pete Parsons supported the statement with a firm “yes”.
I admit, I’m just a CM in the grand scheme, but I’m confident in the following:
We are, and will continue to be, Bungie.
There will never be a “muzzle” big enough to stop us from standing up for what’s right.
— dmg04 (@A_dmg04) May 17, 2022
Insomniac Games CEO Ted Price sent a lengthy document to PlayStation Studios’ head Herman Hulst where he called on PlayStation to “do better by employees who are directly affected” by the current situation. Insomniac staff were angered by Ryan’s, along with many other members of staff under the PlayStation Studios banner.
PlayStation plans to match a donation made by Insomniac Games of $50 000 to the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project, as well as contributions made by staff. PlayStation is set to acquire Bungie for $3.6 billion which is currently under FTC investigation.
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