Sony, Bungie settle with ex-Marathon director they accused of "predatory behaviour", bringing $200m wrongful dismissal lawsuit to a close

Sony, Bungie, and former Marathon director Christopher Barrett have reached a settlement, bringing his $200 million wrongful dismissal lawsuit to a close. Barrett had sued both companies, claiming they "deliberately destroyed [his] reputation by falsely, and publicly, insinuating... he had engaged in sexual misconduct." The lawsuit followed his firing in March 2024 after an internal investigation into accusations from female employees. Barrett alleged the investigation was a "sham" designed to deflect from Sony and Bungie's "massive business failures" and to avoid paying him nearly $50 million owed under his employment agreement. Sony responded with a list of Barrett's alleged "predatory behaviour." The case was dismissed in December 2025 on jurisdictional grounds but refiled in January 2026. In a joint statement, all parties confirmed the settlement, and Barrett's name has been added to Marathon's credits. No other terms were disclosed.