When Halo composer Marty O’Donnell was asked to leave Bungie, a company he helped founded and who’s success he became an instrumental part of, before the release of Destiny, it caused a huge stir. It was more of a case of firing “without cause” and O’Donnell subsequently went to trial with Bungie and Activision about stock he was forced to give up.
Speaking to IGN, O’Donnell offers his thoughts at last on the situation that led to his departure and the overall mood at the studio.
“[T]here were things that were being re-jiggered, and my frustration with some of the business and creative decisions started to mean that I was on this side of the divide and everybody else was on this side. And, as much as we tried to bridge it, it just didn’t seem like it was going to get bridged.
“The ‘why’ question is actually still a question for me. I don’t know why. I was surprised.”
Though his being fired “was the writing on the wall,” O’Donnell still felt that an amicable solution could be reached with regards to his relationship with Bungie.
“I really was hoping it could be mended. Now, it’s quite possible that it couldn’t be mended, and I was just…a thorn in the side of finishing Destiny. Maybe I just wasn’t as good of a leader and helper at that point, because we were on such different sides. I’m not saying it wasn’t the right thing for us to part ways; it probably was. I just don’t think it was done in the best way.”
What are your thoughts on O’Donnell’s firing, especially considering his win in the lawsuit against Bungie and Activision? Let us know in the comments.
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