While many development teams were affected by this massive week of 3,200 Xbox layoffs at Microsoft, studios under the Zenimax and Bethesda banners reportedly faced some of the most brutal cuts. They will make a “great change” in their wake, and more than half of DOOM dev id Software was fired and more than 200 roles were removed from The Elder Scrolls Online maker ZeniMax Online Studios.
Bethesda Game Studios – the team behind Skyrim, Fallout 4, Starfield, and the upcoming Elder Scrolls 6, among other titles – has also been hit, with reports that more than 50 of its developers have been let go. And according to a new report from IGN, that loss of talent will have a “major and escalating effect” on the development of the next RPG The Elder Scrolls.
“Their loss will have a major and devastating impact on the game and the behavior of this studio,” lamented one of the Bethesda employees. “It’s been a combination of all disciplines: programmers, artists, and designers. One person who’s been with the company since Morrowind [the third The Elder Scrolls game released in 2002] it’s disconnected,” added another.
Those affected by the layoffs include “key people, who do very well in the trenches” – and those who remain at Bethesda fear that their dismissal will lead to major problems for The Elder Scrolls 6, including more time spent by contractors on training, unhealthy amounts of crunch and overtime, and a delay of the title that has been reported for two years.
“There is a fear that we will be replaced by cheap, contract workers, or we will hire people to fill the vacancies that will need to be filled. [due to proprietary tools] leading to more delays, and we’ll have to delay to make up the time,” one Bethesda employee told IGN. Another noted that they’ve heard their colleagues have been asked to train new contractors.
“We were all very happy and congratulated on TES 6 and this had a negative impact on morale,” said another employee. “We’ve been running a tight ship and we’re worried about this delaying the game.”
It is reported that the team working on the RPG will receive support from ZeniMax Online Studios, although it is not clear how big a role Elder Scroll Online will play. I can’t help but think it will be less, given the fact that that The group recently cut more than 200.
Developers at Bethesda have been assured they are safe from 1,600 of the 3,200 layoffs that are coming within the next 12 months, although team members are worried they will eventually be let go. It’s a reasonable fear, given the history of Microsoft and Xbox layoffs.
“Survivors” have been told they’re safe for the next 1,600 but it’s not entirely convincing,” said another. “Even if that’s true, who’s to say there aren’t another 1,600 next year after that? It had the unfortunate effect of realizing you’re not getting retirement from your job at Xbox. Your time ends when you quit or get fired, that’s all.”
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