The court papers say that Activision had little enthusiasm for releasing the Music of the Spheres as a standalone work, and ODonnell became increasingly frustrated that Bungie was making insufficient effort to release it. During E3 2013 preparations, Bungie was getting ready to demo the game for the first time before a huge audience. It was going to play the game music with a trailer, but shortly before E3, Activision took over the trailer work and supplied its own music, rather than the Music of the Spheres segments.
ODonnell reacted angrily and believed Activision had overstepped its proper role by assuming artistic control of the trailer music. Ryan, the CEO of Bungie, and management shared his concern and filed a veto letter with Activision, which overruled the objection. During E3, ODonnell tweeted that Activision, not Bungie, had composed the trailer music. He also threatened Bungie employees in an attempt to keep the trailer from being posted online, and interrupted press briefings.
The court filings say that ODonnell believed he was preserving Bungies creative process, artistic integrity, and reputation, keeping faith with fans, and protecting Bungie and its intellectual property from Activisions encroachment into artistic decisions. According to ODonnells view, the Band of Brothers ethos that had inspired the groups earlier work was being damaged by the Activision relationship.
Ryan and other Bungie management felt that his conduct hurt the Bungie team, hurt the game, drove a negative online discussion, and violated Ryans instructions. They also believed that ODonnell was elevating his interest in publishing Music of the Spheres over the best interests of the company. Activision advised Bungie that ODonnells conduct may constitute a breach of the parties contract.
