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Bethesda

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IGNPositive

There Are Many Solid The Elder Scrolls 6 Subtitle Theories Based on Xbox Boss Asha Sharma’s Asterisk-Filled Tease — but Let’s Rule Out Skyrim 2 Right Now

Xbox boss Asha Sharma's cryptic tweet about The Elder Scrolls 6, using asterisks for the subtitle, has sparked numerous fan theories. While many possibilities exist, the article dismisses the idea of it being 'Skyrim 2'.

PC GamerNegative

After giving it 2 patches and dropping it like a stone, Bethesda promises to bring Switch 2 optimisations to Oblivion…

Bethesda has announced plans to bring optimizations from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion's Nintendo Switch version to other platforms, including PC. This comes a year after the game's last patch, addressing player feedback regarding performance issues and missing quality-of-life features.

IGNNegative

The Elder Scrolls 6 Demo to Xbox Leadership Included a Giant Inflatable Rat, Placed Outside Bethesda Offices in Protest at Microsoft's Mass Layoffs

Bethesda employees inflated a giant rat outside the company's offices during a visit from Xbox leadership to play The Elder Scrolls 6. This protest occurred in response to Microsoft's recent mass layoffs.

EurogamerNegative

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's internal playthrough of The Elder Scrolls 6 disrupted by a giant inflatable rat, as Bethesda union protests cuts

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's internal playthrough of The Elder Scrolls 6 was disrupted by a protest organized by the CWA video game union outside Bethesda's offices. The protest, featuring a giant inflatable rat and red flags representing laid-off employees, aimed to highlight the substantial job cuts made by Microsoft. Sharma briefly commented on the game's scale and story on X, while the union vowed to continue fighting against the layoffs.

Gamedeveloper.comVery negative

'One flag for each laid off dev:' Union workers stage unmissable protest for Xbox boss Asha Sharma

Union workers from the Communications Workers of America protested outside Bethesda's office during Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's visit, deploying an inflatable rat and red flags to represent each employee laid off under her leadership. The protest aimed to highlight the human cost of recent mass layoffs within Microsoft's gaming division, which have affected studios like Obsidian, id Software, and ZeniMax Online Studios.

Gaming BoltNeutral

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered to Get Optimizations Based on Nintendo Switch 2 Release

Bethesda has acknowledged player feedback regarding issues with The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, particularly on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Optimizations present in the recent Nintendo Switch 2 version are being considered for transfer to other platforms. Despite ongoing bugs, the RPG remains popular, with the Nintendo Switch 2 version featuring enhanced visuals and unique console features.

Retro GamerPositive

Oblivion Remastered's Switch 2 improvements could come to other platforms, says Bethesda

Bethesda Softworks is considering bringing performance optimizations from the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Oblivion Remastered to other platforms. The company acknowledged player feedback regarding the game's ongoing performance issues, such as stuttering and frame rate instability, which persist despite the recent Switch 2 release that includes DLSS and general improvements.

Retro GamerVery negative

The Elder Scrolls 6 demo had a surprise guest at Bethesda HQ: a giant inflatable rat set up by protesting employees to watch Xbox execs who oversaw "devastating layoffs"

During a visit from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma to Bethesda, protesting employees displayed a giant inflatable rat and hundreds of flags to highlight the significant layoffs that have occurred under Microsoft's leadership. The demonstration aimed to remind executives of the workers impacted by these cuts and advocate for fair treatment and the future of the game industry.

Rock Paper ShotgunVery negative

As Xbox head Asha Sharma reportedly visits Bethesda HQ, workers put up red flags representing laid off staff and a giant inflatable rat outside

Communications Workers of America union members protested outside Bethesda's headquarters with red flags representing laid-off workers and a giant inflatable rat. The protest coincided with a reported visit from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and highlights ongoing concerns about Microsoft's significant layoffs within its gaming divisions, including Bethesda and Activision Blizzard.

Shack NewsVery positive

Asha Sharma has played The Elder Scrolls 6, says 'The scale and grandeur are incredible'

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has played The Elder Scrolls 6 and described its scale and grandeur as incredible, with an even greater story. Sharma's comments come as Bethesda Softworks continues development on the highly anticipated RPG, with Todd Howard also noting daily playtesting.

GamespotNeutral

The Elder Scrolls 6 Might Have An 8-Letter Subtitle

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has teased a potential 8-letter subtitle for the upcoming game The Elder Scrolls 6 after witnessing a live playthrough. Bethesda previously stated that development is proceeding as planned, despite recent layoffs impacting morale and raising concerns about potential delays. The Elder Scrolls 6 is one of Microsoft's most anticipated upcoming titles.

Retro GamerPositive

Xbox CEO says her "live playthrough" of The Elder Scrolls 6 shows "incredible" scale but "the…

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma shared her excitement about a "live playthrough" of The Elder Scrolls 6, describing its scale and story as "incredible." While the exact build and development stage remain unconfirmed, the mention suggests significant progress is being made by Bethesda, potentially involving figures like Todd Howard.

IGNNeutral

Bethesda Finally Confirms The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Patch Is Coming

Bethesda has confirmed that a patch for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is in development. The Nintendo Switch version of the game has already been released.

Retro GamerVery negative

Id Software lead says devs "don't have the incentive to care anymore" with Microsoft threatening another 1,600 Xbox layoffs after latest bloodbath

Id Software lead services programmer Chris Hayes criticizes Microsoft's repeated layoffs, stating that they weaken studios and remove developers' incentive to care about their work. Hayes argues that companies like Microsoft fail to understand the long-term value of experienced teams and the importance of learning from failures, leading to a decline in game quality. This sentiment is echoed by other industry figures concerned about the current climate of studio reductions.

PC GamerPositive

Thief designer says that the immersive sim audience is too small for AAA games: 'There's quite a few of us who…

Designer Randy Smith Evergreen, known for his work on Thief and System Shock 2, argues that the immersive sim genre is too small for AAA development. He believes that the increasing budgets and scope required for AAA games are misaligned with the niche audience for immersive sims, leading to commercial disappointments like Arkane's Dishonored 2 and Prey. Evergreen suggests that a more viable path for immersive sims is through smaller, AA or indie budgets, citing the original Thief's modest budget as a successful model.

Retro GamerPositive

Bethesda veteran says Oblivion Remastered can't be called a remake, unlike Final Fantasy 7 and Resident Evil 2…

Bethesda's associate art director Dan Lee explained that The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is not a remake because it retains the original game's core engine and 'bones,' differentiating it from titles like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Resident Evil 2. Todd Howard drew a line between modernizing the art and fundamentally changing the game, opting to market it as a polished version of the original rather than a new creation.

EurogamerVery negative

"They don't understand art" - id Software lead slams Xbox, says it's "impossible" to make games like 2016's Doom now

id Software lead developer Chris Hayes stated that it is impossible to create triple-A games like 2016's Doom with half the staff, criticizing Microsoft's recent layoffs. Hayes believes the company's leadership does not understand game development or the business, especially regarding the impact of services like Game Pass on sales metrics. He also refuted claims that id Software's developer count remains similar to when Doom (2016) was released.

IGNNeutral

Bethesda Veteran Reveals How He Would Have Designed Starfield Differently

A former Bethesda developer, who contributed to titles like Skyrim and the Fallout series, has shared their alternative vision for Starfield's design. Their proposed approach differs significantly from the final product.

PC GamerVery negative

Dev at id Software says Microsoft 'burned a lot of bridges' in the industry: 'They fundamentally don't understand art, they don't understand games'

Chris Hays, lead services programmer at id Software, criticized Microsoft's handling of recent layoffs, stating the company "fundamentally don't understand art, they don't understand games." He described the process as "inhumane" and "demoralizing," leading to a significant loss of talent and expertise within the studio. Hays believes Microsoft has "burned a lot of bridges" and damaged its reputation, making future recruitment and trust difficult.

Metro UKVery negative

Doom dev criticises Xbox after studio layoffs: 'Morale has never been lower'

A lead programmer from id Software, Chris Hays, has heavily criticized Microsoft and Xbox following recent layoffs that significantly impacted the studio. Hays described the process as 'inhumane' and stated that morale is at an all-time low, making it impossible to develop AAA games with half the staff. He also criticized Xbox's understanding of the Game Pass business model and its impact on game development.