Sony has officially addressed the lawsuit brought against it by Christopher Barrett, a former employee at Bungie.
In fresh developments, as outlined by Game File, Sony has put forward text messages exchanged between Barrett and some female colleagues at Bungie. These messages purportedly highlight a “pattern of misconduct,” according to the gaming giant.
Barrett departed from Bungie in March 2024, with later reports indicating that his exit was linked to allegations of inappropriate behavior towards female staffers. Seeking justice, Barrett has launched a legal suit claiming wrongful termination and demanding $200 million in damages, citing a loss of $45 million from Sony’s acquisition of Bungie back in 2022 as part of his alleged dues.
The crux of Sony’s argument centers on assertions that Barrett was dismissed because he allegedly targeted a junior female employee. He reportedly initiated seemingly harmless conversations but gradually crossed boundaries, making subtle comments about her looks and showing romantic interest. This pattern aimed at creating what Sony described as “an unprofessional level of intimacy” with his alleged victims.
Adding weight to their claims, Sony included excerpts from text and direct messages sent by Barrett to the women involved in the lawsuit.
In response, Barrett’s legal team hit back, claiming Sony is selectively using fragments of text messages and alleged exchanges to craft a narrative that paints him in a bad light, thus justifying their decision to fire him without honoring his contractual entitlements.
His lawyers stated to Game File, “Sony’s failure to produce the full messages as evidence, alongside their incomplete portrayal of these interactions, means their argument lacks solid ground either legally or factually to terminate Christopher for cause.”
Barrett remains optimistic, asserting that when the full scope of evidence is unveiled, it will showcase Sony’s purported ploy to oust him and rob him of the equity rewards he rightfully earned over 25 years of dedicated service.
