Sony has stepped forward to address the lawsuit filed by Christopher Barrett, who used to work for Bungie.
In a new court filing, highlighted by Game File, Sony has released a series of text messages exchanged between Barrett and several female employees at Bungie. The company claims these messages showcase what they describe as Barrett’s “pattern of misconduct.”
Barrett departed from Bungie in March 2024. It later came to light that his exit was tied to accusations of inappropriate behavior towards women at the company. Now, he’s pursuing legal action for what he believes to be wrongful termination, seeking a hefty $200 million in damages. Barrett argues that his termination cost him $45 million he expected from Sony’s acquisition of Bungie in 2022.
Sony maintains that his dismissal was warranted, asserting that Barrett allegedly fixated on a female employee who didn’t work directly with him. The company claims he started with friendly chats but then overstepped boundaries, making subtle comments about her looks and expressing romantic interest. They argue his actions resulted in an inappropriate level of familiarity with those affected.
Sony’s filing includes snippets from messages and direct correspondence Barrett allegedly sent to these women.
In response, Barrett’s legal team told Game File that Sony is selectively presenting portions of conversations to tarnish Barrett’s reputation and justify his firing, thereby avoiding the financial obligations outlined in his employment agreements. “It’s notable,” they argue, “that Sony doesn’t include complete texts or conversations, nor does their response provide a sound legal or factual foundation for Barrett’s termination.”
Barrett remains hopeful that when the complete evidence is unveiled, it will show that Sony orchestrated a ploy to deprive him of his position and deserved equity, despite his 25 years of dedicated service to the company.
