12 States Revealed: The Definitive List Of Bungie Approved Remote Locations And Their 'Digital-First' Policy
Contents
The Current Roster of Bungie Approved Remote Locations (US States)
Bungie’s ability to hire in a specific location is governed by a complex web of state-specific labor laws, payroll regulations, and tax compliance requirements. The studio must establish legal and administrative infrastructure in each state where it employs a full-time, permanent remote worker. This is why the list is finite, though continuously expanding. This list represents the currently known and most frequently cited states where Bungie maintains the necessary legal and HR framework to employ full-time remote staff.The following US states are the primary "Bungie Approved Remote Locations" for full-time employees, in addition to their main studio location in Bellevue, Washington:
- California (CA): A major hub for tech and creative talent.
- Colorado (CO): A rapidly growing tech center in the Mountain West.
- Florida (FL): A strategic location for East Coast talent.
- Georgia (GA): Home to a burgeoning film and game development scene.
- Illinois (IL): A key location in the Midwest.
- Maryland (MD): Part of the Mid-Atlantic region, offering access to East Coast talent pools.
- Massachusetts (MA): A significant East Coast tech and university center.
- Minnesota (MN): A key Midwest location.
- North Carolina (NC): A popular state for tech and quality of life.
- Oregon (OR): Neighboring state to Washington, with a strong talent base.
- Texas (TX): A massive, strategically important state for hiring across multiple disciplines.
- Washington (WA): The primary state, home to the Bungie Headquarters in Bellevue.
It is crucial to note that while a state may be "approved," not *every* job role is fully remote. Positions requiring specialized hardware, on-site security, or specific in-person collaboration, particularly within the Game Security or Hardware Engineering teams, may still be designated as hybrid or on-site roles at the Bellevue, WA campus. Prospective employees must always check the specific job listing on the Bungie Careers page for the official location status.
The 'Digital-First' Mandate: Why Bungie Limits Remote Work to Certain States
Bungie's commitment to a "digital-first workplace" is not a temporary measure; it is a core Talent Acquisition strategy. The primary goal is to cast the widest possible net for the best developers, artists, and engineers in the world, ensuring the continued success of their live service games like *Destiny 2* and the successful launch of new intellectual property such as *Marathon*. This strategy is supported by an acceleration in hiring talent, a goal explicitly backed by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) following the acquisition.The Unseen Challenges: HR, Tax Compliance, and Legal Hurdles
The reason Bungie cannot simply hire employees in all 50 US states or internationally is rooted in the complex realities of employment law and fiscal compliance. This is where the concept of "Bungie Approved Remote Locations" becomes a legal necessity, not a preference.- State-Specific Labor Laws: Every state has unique laws governing everything from minimum wage and overtime to sick leave, benefits, and termination procedures. Maintaining compliance with the disparate labor laws across dozens of states is an enormous administrative burden for the Human Resources (HR) department.
- Payroll and Tax Compliance: Employing staff in a state requires the company to register as an employer in that state. This involves managing state income tax withholding, local taxes, unemployment insurance, and workers' compensation, all of which vary significantly. The complexity of multi-state tax compliance is the single biggest limiting factor for most companies adopting a widespread remote model.
- Business Nexus and Corporate Tax: Hiring an employee in a new state can establish a "business nexus," which may subject Bungie to corporate income tax in that state. This requires careful Legal and Finance department planning to avoid unforeseen tax liabilities.
- International Restrictions: Outside of the US, the complexity multiplies exponentially. While Bungie has studio locations in Amsterdam for publishing and community management roles, full-time development positions are almost exclusively US-based. Hiring internationally requires navigating foreign labor laws, visa sponsorships, and international tax treaties, making it exceptionally difficult to offer broad international remote flexibility.
By limiting their hiring to a curated list of approved states, Bungie minimizes legal risk and ensures proper HR compliance, allowing their teams to focus on game development rather than administrative overhead. The expansion of this list is a slow, methodical process as the Legal and HR teams establish the necessary infrastructure in each new location.
The Sony Acquisition and the Future of Bungie's Remote Flexibility
When Sony acquired Bungie in a massive deal, a key concern among employees and the industry was whether the new ownership would force a return to the office, a trend seen at many other major technology companies. However, the evidence and official statements suggest the opposite. The Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) acquisition, which closed in 2022, has reinforced Bungie's "digital-first" strategy. Bungie leadership, including CEO Pete Parsons, assured employees that the studio would maintain its creative independence and its unique company culture, which now includes the remote work model. The acquisition was framed as a move to accelerate Bungie's ambitious vision and hiring goals, which the remote model directly supports by dramatically expanding the talent pool for titles like *Destiny 2* and the upcoming *Marathon* reboot. This ongoing commitment is a clear signal that the remote flexibility is a permanent fixture of the Bungie employee benefits package. It allows the studio to recruit specialized talent, such as Game Services Engineers, Technical Program Managers, and Software Engineering Architects, from high-cost-of-living areas like California without requiring them to relocate to the Bellevue, WA area. In summary, the "Bungie Approved Remote Locations" are a strategic list of US states where the studio has legally established a presence to hire the best talent while maintaining strict HR and tax compliance. This digital-first, hybrid work model is a key pillar of the company's future, ensuring they remain competitive in the global game development industry under the PlayStation Studios umbrella.
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