Bungie: Destiny developer announces new CEO as president Harold Ryan steps down

Bungie's president Harold Ryan has left the famed video game developer, with studio veteran Pete Parsons stepping up to become CEO in his place. This news follows a series of reports that have speculated on the uncertain future of Bungie's Destiny.

In a brief statement Parsons said: "I want to personally thank Harold for his friendship, passion, hard work and dedication in helping make Bungie the great company it is today. As a team, we celebrated many victories and weathered many storms."

He also addressed Destiny's player base, which in the last week alone has read claims that the game's unannounced follow-up Destiny 2 had been delayed from its planned September release and that Bungie might be gearing up to sell ammo packs for real world currency.

"To the players of Destiny," continued Parsons. "I want you to know that my number one priority, and Bungie's, is and always has been to deliver great games that we can all share together. I believe that Destiny is a one-of-a-kind experience. I also believe you have yet to see our studio's best work. My new role here at the studio will be entirely focused on fulfilling that promise."

After splitting from Microsoft and handing over control of the Halo series to them, Bungie signed a well-publicised deal with Activision to make Destiny and support it with expansions, free content and sequels over a ten-year period.

The online sci-fi shooter's first year on sale saw the release of three expansion packs, while the second (which we're currently a few months into) will see no expansions released, but a spate of free events (such as Crimson Days next month) and the introduction of micro-transactions to support the studio in lieu of expansions.

The belief is that the lack of expansions is due to a focus on the development of Destiny 2 – a follow-up that would allow player progress from previous games to be transferred over. However, such a game has not been announced, so right now there's a degree of uncertainty among fans over the game's future.

Former Bungie president Harold Ryan has not commented on the nature of his departure or what he plans to do next.

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