Unionized developers at Bethesda Game Studios have continued to rally against Microsoft's recent layoffs, with participants reporting that while morale for ongoing work is at an all-time low, their efforts to organize collectively are fostering a sense of optimism. The protests, organized by the One Bethesda Game Studio (OneBGS) union with support from the Communication Workers of America (CWA), took place in multiple North American locations on August 18.
These demonstrations, dubbed "Save Our Devs," occurred in cities including Redmond, Washington; Rockville, Maryland; Austin, Texas; Minneapolis; and Albany. According to reports, the layoffs have impacted not only management but also "people on the ground making sure that this game works and putting it in the hands of players." Developers expressed that the cuts have undermined the perceived stability of working at Bethesda and Zenimax, leading to the loss of veteran staff and institutional knowledge.
One unionized developer noted that the studio had submitted a proposal in February on how to conduct a reduction in force, but the company did not respond for four months before proceeding with the layoffs. The CWA and CWA Canada have filed unfair labor practice complaints with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Canadian labour board, respectively. These complaints allege that Microsoft mishandled the cuts by failing to provide necessary information to the union, engaging in bad-faith bargaining, enacting "coercive actions," and unilaterally altering employee contracts.
The impact of these layoffs on the development timelines for major titles like The Elder Scrolls 6 and The Elder Scrolls Online remains uncertain. Despite statements from Microsoft aiming to reassure stakeholders, the ongoing labor disputes and the effects on development teams suggest a potentially nebulous future for these highly anticipated games.