Bungie settles Destiny 2 copyright lawsuit with writer in undisclosed settlement

Bungie has settled a copyright lawsuit with a writer who’d alleged the story had lifted elements of Destiny 2’s original storyline from his work.

Plaintiff Matthew Kelsey Martineau previously alleged that Destiny 2’s campaign storylines The Red War and Curse of Osiris copied protected elements of his own published work, including faction and character details that were published on WordPress in 2013 and 2014.

In Bungie’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, it attached various materials including Destiny 2 gameplay videos from the campaign, information from the wiki Destinypedia, and an affidavit from game director Tyson Green. However, because it had controversially “vaulted” the storylines concerned – that is, removed them from the live game – Bungie had its motion to dismiss denied.

Now, as first reported by The Game Post, both parties have settled, although the terms and conditions of that settlement have not publicised.

If no further objections are made within 60 days, the court will presume “all parties have firmly agreed upon a compromise.”

Sony leadership recently discussed its expectations of Destiny 2 following its $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie in 2022, revealing in its latest investor call that “level of sales and user engagement” of the online shooter “have not reached the expectation [it] had at the time of the acquisition of Bungie.”