Sony Addresses $200 Million Wrongful Dismissal Lawsuit by Former Bungie Veteran Barrett

Sony has recently addressed a lawsuit brought against it by Christopher Barrett, a former employee at Bungie.

In response to the legal action, which was highlighted by Game File, Sony has made public a series of text messages exchanged between Barrett and several female Bungie employees. Sony asserts that these messages display a recurring pattern of inappropriate conduct on Barrett’s part.

Barrett departed from Bungie in March 2024, initially under circumstances that were unclear. It was subsequently revealed that his exit was linked to accusations of misconduct towards female colleagues at the gaming studio. Barrett has countered these claims by suing for wrongful termination. He is seeking $200 million in damages, arguing that his departure cost him $45 million he was supposed to receive following Sony’s acquisition of Bungie in 2022.

In their response, Sony emphasized that Barrett was dismissed because he allegedly pursued a “lower-level, female employee,” not assigned to work with him directly. Their interaction began as friendly but, according to Sony, Barrett crossed professional boundaries, making subtle comments about her appearance and implying romantic interest. They suggest he tried to establish an inappropriate level of intimacy with those he targeted.

Sony’s documentation includes snippets from Barrett’s texts and direct messages to the women involved.

Barrett’s legal team hit back at these allegations via a statement to Game File, accusing Sony of selectively presenting information. They claim that the messages are taken out of context to tarnish Barrett’s reputation and justify his dismissal, hence avoiding financial obligations towards him as per his employment terms.

His lawyers argue that Sony’s failure to include the complete texts or full details of discussions weakens their case, insisting there’s no solid legal reason for his termination. Barrett remains optimistic, stating that once all evidence is reviewed thoroughly, it will demonstrate that Sony conspired to remove him from his role and deprive him of the rewards he rightfully earned over 25 years of dedicated service to the company.