As Microsoft continues to implement mass layoffs impacting studios under its Xbox umbrella, including Bethesda, a Skyrim modder has created a new mod to demonstrate solidarity with affected developers. The mod, titled 'United Front,' introduces union logos to Skyrim's Tamrielic landscape, serving as a digital protest alongside planned physical rallies.
OneBGS, the CWA-affiliated union representing Bethesda employees, has organized marches outside the studio's offices in Montreal, Rockville, Maryland, Austin, and Dallas for July 15th. "The company wants us to accept this as a done deal and quietly disappear," the OneBGS organizing committee stated. "We won’t let that happen. Our next steps are to mobilize."
The 'United Front' mod was developed by Emmi 'Elianora' Junkkari, a prominent Skyrim modder known for her player home creations. The mod places logos for OneBGS and Zenimax Workers United onto shields and banners displayed throughout Skyrim's major cities. Junkkari hopes that players sharing screenshots or streams of the mod will help raise awareness for the union's efforts and signal player support to Microsoft.
"We are the best allies to game devs," Junkkari wrote, explaining her motivation. "We give our money to these companies and they are afraid of what we can do. If we concentrate our efforts we can make a big, angry sound." She added that she has "heart aches" for the laid-off developers, many of whom she has worked with previously. "Every dev at BGS/BSW/ZOS I've ever met has been kind, talented and passionate about their work. They do not deserve to be this expendable."
The mod requires Skyrim Special Edition and is available via Bethesda.net. Junkkari has also provided a list of affected ZeniMax and Bethesda staff in the mod's description and suggested other ways players can show support.