Joe Ziegler Joins Bungie as Game Director, Potentially Leading Development of New Competitive Shooter
Joe Ziegler, the former game director of VALORANT, has joined Bungie, the developer of Destiny 2, as a game director. Ziegler’s expertise and experience in developing successful multiplayer shooters make him a valuable addition to Bungie as they potentially embark on the development of a new competitive shooter.
In an interview with Polygon in 2020, Ziegler was credited with conceiving the idea for VALORANT while brainstorming for other Riot titles. He then took on the role of game director for VALORANT until December 2022, when he joined Bungie.
With Ziegler’s experience as a game director for a highly popular multiplayer competitive shooter, his arrival at Bungie suggests that the company’s potential competitive PvP title is progressing in its development.
In recent years, Bungie has posted several job listings on its website for new projects, including roles for a “competitive multiplayer systems designer” and positions such as lead combat designer, level designer, gameplay designer, and economy designer. These listings align with the description of a game similar to VALORANT.
Earlier in 2022, Sony acquired Bungie for $3.6 billion as part of its plan to launch more than 10 live-service games by the end of 2025. Among these projects is a rumored competitive title called “Project Matter” by Bungie.
Ziegler has not disclosed any specific details about his work at Bungie, but the wording of his announcement suggests that he is involved in the development of a new title that is still far from being released rather than working on ongoing Destiny 2 content.