Multiple Bethesda employees have voiced concerns that the recent wave of Xbox layoffs will have a substantial and cascading effect on the development of The Elder Scrolls 6. According to a report, more than 50 staff members, including high-performing individuals across programming, art, and design disciplines, have been impacted.
These departures have reportedly led to a significant drop in studio morale. Employees cited that the loss of experienced personnel, including one individual with history at the company since the Morrowind era, could increase the likelihood of crunch and potentially delay the game's release. One anonymous staff member stated, "Their loss will have a substantial and cascading effect on the game and morale of this studio."
The layoffs affect various departments, with one report highlighting the departure of a lead character artist who had worked on titles such as Skyrim, Oblivion, Morrowind, Fallout 3, and Fallout 4. This news follows earlier reports of staff cuts at ZeniMax and Bethesda, which were expected to lead to a studio focus on major franchises like Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein. However, the current situation suggests that these plans may be hindered by the reduced headcount and low morale.
Similar impacts are being felt at other studios under the Xbox umbrella. id Software, the developer behind Doom and Quake, has also experienced drastic staff reductions, leading to speculation that it may be relegated to a support studio role. The cancellation of several pitched projects at id Software has also been reported.
The internal reaction to these changes within Bethesda suggests that the consequences of Xbox's strategic restructuring are creating internal discontent. The full ramifications of these layoffs are expected to unfold in the coming weeks and months.