Bethesda and Elder Scrolls Online Hit by Xbox Restructuring Layoffs
The layoffs at Bethesda and Zenimax Online Studios signal that Xbox's restructuring is now directly affecting the development of The Elder Scrolls Online and Bethesda's major franchises.
Reporting from 1 source: Game Spark.
Bethesda and Zenimax Online Studios, the team behind The Elder Scrolls Online, are affected by Xbox's ongoing restructuring. Bethesda's head Jill Braff told staff in an email that the company must focus on its strongest franchises. Kotaku reports that up to half of the ESO development team may be laid off, and the game's roadmap will shift.
Bethesda's top executive Jill Braff sent an email to all employees acknowledging that many colleagues are affected by the layoffs. She wrote that the company needs to change course and focus on its strongest franchises, including Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Doom. The cuts extend to Zenimax Online Studios, the developer of The Elder Scrolls Online. Kotaku reports that the layoffs there may affect up to half of the development team. The studio has stated on the game's official forums that the development roadmap for ESO will be shifting as a result.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.