Sony has addressed the lawsuit initiated by Christopher Barrett, a former staff member at Bungie.
In a recent legal filing reported by Game File, the PlayStation company shared text messages between Barrett and female team members at Bungie. These messages supposedly unveil a recurring pattern of misconduct.
Barrett parted ways with Bungie in March 2024 amid allegations of inappropriate behavior towards female colleagues. He has since launched a lawsuit, seeking damages of $200 million, arguing that his dismissal prevented him from collecting $45 million due from Sony’s 2022 acquisition of Bungie.
According to Sony, Barrett’s termination stemmed from inappropriate interactions. They claim he targeted a junior female employee, initiating seemingly innocent chats that escalated to subtle comments about her appearance and unwanted romantic advancements. Sony accuses him of crossing professional boundaries to foster unwanted intimacy.
The filing includes excerpts from messages Barrett purportedly sent to these women.
In response, Barrett’s legal team criticized Sony for selectively presenting evidence. They argue that the company omits the full context of these exchanges to tarnish Barrett’s reputation and justify his dismissal without meeting contractual obligations.
Barrett’s attorneys assert, “Sony strategically cherry-picks messages and claims to slander Christopher and sidestep paying what he’s contractually owed. Their response lacks a solid legal or factual basis for his termination.”
They further expressed that once all evidence is introduced, it will demonstrate that Sony orchestrated a scheme to deprive Barrett of his position and rightful compensation after his 25 years of dedicated service.
