Well, I have to say this comes as somewhat of a shocking surprise. Of course Bungie undergoes turnover like any other organization-- the bigger it is, the more churn it has.

Fan community members I've known have gone to work for Bungie. Some have moved on, others are still there. Some Bungie employees, even founders, moved on when the studio was bought by Microsoft. Some moved on when it became independent. For the most part, Bungie maintains the "Bungie Way" even as old faces leave and new ones arrive.

Still, this one stings. Joseph Staten is leaving Bungie after fifteen years. He's been with Bungie since the Myth days. He will be Mythed.

Staten's last four years at Bungie have been spent working on Destiny, so no doubt his influence will be felt there, not only by those playing the first installment next year, but by those who play in that world over the next decade. What then?

I think it's a perfect time for Bungie to find out what Greg Kirkpatrick has been up to-- just in time to tool up for making a new Marathon game.