Destiny 2 director Joe Blackburn is stepping down following the release of the next expansion, The Final Shape, scheduled for release in June. Blackburn, who has served as lead raid designer for Destiny, among others, said it was time to “pass the torch” to “new adventures outside of Bungie’s walls.”
Tyson Green will take the helm as D2 Game Director for End-to-End next month. If you follow Bungie at all, you’ve probably heard of him. From Halo PvP to creating D1 Exotic weapons, Tyson has been an important part of Bungie’s legacy since his Myth II.
— Joe Blackburn (@joegoroth) January 31, 2024
“As someone who was deeply invested in Guardians before I started working at Bungie, it was a once-in-a-lifetime privilege to be part of the Destiny 2 team,” said Blackburn. “I am and always will be a lifelong Bungie fan and believe in what the team within its walls can do.”
Blackburn will be replaced by Tyson Greene, a Halo player-versus-player veteran who helped create Exotic weapons in the original Destiny and who has been an “important part of Bungie’s legacy since Myth II.” do.
Blackburn’s departure comes at a difficult time for both Bungie and Destiny. Back in October, Bungie was hit hard by massive layoffs, leaving the company in an atmosphere that employees described as “soul-crushing.” Destiny 2 has suffered from a similar decline in its player base. Controversies in various communities. The Final Shape, which was scheduled to be released on February 27th, has been pushed back to the summer.
Despite this, Blackburn seemed to enjoy a generally positive reputation among fans. He has been a game director since at least 2021, taking on the role after returning to Bungie after a brief stint at Riot Games. The announcement of his departure was greeted with heartfelt farewells on Twitter and other platforms, with fans thanking him for his hard work on the series.
Meanwhile, Mr Blackburn declined to reveal his next destination, although he did say he was planning to take a “big break” from social media. “There’s still some time before we pass the torch, but I’m looking forward to taking a big break from social media, so I know I’ll see everyone around the Tower. It’ll be great playing Destiny with everyone.” It will be yours. “
“The Final Shape” will be released on June 4th.
Kat Bailey is IGN’s news director and co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Any tips? DM her at @the_katbot.