Sony has officially responded to the lawsuit brought by Christopher Barrett, a former Bungie employee.
According to a report by Game File, Sony has released text messages as part of its filing that show interactions between Barrett and female Bungie staff members, which the company claims demonstrate a “pattern of misconduct.”
Barrett, who left Bungie in March 2024, has been accused of inappropriate behavior toward female colleagues. He filed a lawsuit arguing wrongful termination, seeking $200 million in damages. Barrett claims his dismissal robbed him of $45 million he expected from Sony’s acquisition of Bungie in 2022.
Sony’s response emphasizes that Barrett was dismissed because he allegedly targeted a junior female employee, initially engaging in casual conversation. Over time, his interactions reportedly became more inappropriate, with comments on her appearance and expressions of romantic interest. Sony claims Barrett sought an unprofessional level of intimacy with these employees.
Their filing includes excerpts from Barrett’s texts and direct messages to his alleged victims.
Barrett’s legal team, responding to Sony’s claims, told Game File that the company is “cherry-picking” messages and making unsupported accusations to justify Barrett’s dismissal and sidestep financial obligations from his contract.
The lawyers further argued that Sony’s failure to disclose the full texts or conversations weakens their case against Barrett. “Christopher remains confident,” they stated, “that once all the evidence is laid out, it will reveal Sony’s attempts to unjustly strip him of his job and the equity rewards he rightfully earned during his 25 years of dedicated service.”
Sony and Barrett will likely continue to dispute these claims, each presenting more evidence in this high-profile case within the gaming industry.
