Years after leaving Activision, which is ending full remote work, Bungie's made the best Destiny 2 season ever "entirely remotely"

gamesradar.com:

Activision Blizzard has confirmed plans to bring employees back to offices as it shutters fully remote work, igniting conversations across the industry about the importance and value of remote opportunities in game dev. A particularly stark comparison has been made with Destiny 2 developer Bungie, which broke away from Activision just over four years ago and has been expanding its remote opportunities while maintaining a mammoth MMO and just recently launching the best season and season finale in the game's history. 

As Game Developer (opens in new tab) reports, Activision employees are expected back at the office on April 10, with Blizzard staff returning July 10. Members of both companies will be required to come into the office three days a week, so there will still be some remote time. "We look forward to the increased in-person collaboration and teamwork," a statement from the company reads. 

The response from Activision Blizzard employees and other game devs has been more than mixed. One Blizzard staffer argued (opens in new tab) that "the majority of employees at ABK have no interest in returning to office either full or part time." A remote Blizzard hire noted (opens in new tab) that they learned of the news through a website, and while they won't be affected by the return to office as they've always been a fully remote hire, they argued "there's no logic to mandating being in the same physical location." 

Bungie cinematics director Jimmie Myers affirmed (opens in new tab) that "Bungie is a remote first company" which developed and shipped Destiny 2's Season of the Seraph "entirely remotely." Many other Bungie employees have shared Myers' post and sentiment, with one senior design lead explaining (opens in new