Following significant layoffs across Xbox, The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) community has expressed concerns regarding the MMORPG's future. However, developers at Zenimax Online Studios have stated that the team responsible for ESO is now at a size comparable to when popular expansions such as Wrothgar and Summerset were developed. This assertion aims to alleviate fears that the game might be entering a maintenance mode or cease new content development.
During a recent ESO Tavern event in Germany, community member Baratron spoke with Associate Design Director Jason Barnes and Associate Director of Community Management Jessica Folsom. According to Baratron's report on Discord, the developers claimed that Zenimax Online Studios' current team size mirrors that of the Wrothgar and Summerset development periods. These expansions are highly regarded by the player base, suggesting that the studio can still produce acclaimed content.
Baratron described the mood at the fan event as somber but not a "funeral." He also noted that ESO Game Director Nick Giacomini and Studio Executive Producer Susan Kath were absent from the event as they are actively working on an updated roadmap for the game.
Community Manager Kevin Gbolie corroborated Baratron's account on the ESO forums, acknowledging the difficulty of the past week for the studio. He reiterated the commitment to delivering great content and indicated that an update would be shared soon. Gbolie also extended his gratitude to the community for their support and concern for the affected employees.
This situation draws parallels to an update from id Software, which also addressed concerns after its own round of layoffs. Id Software stated that its team size had returned to that of when Doom (2016) shipped. While maintaining team size from previous successful periods is a point of reassurance, it does not diminish the impact of the layoffs on individual employees or the potential challenges posed by reduced staff numbers and experience.