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Elder Scrolls 6 faces delays as Microsoft lays off people that were making it
Bethesda Game Studios employees are concerned that The Elder Scrolls 6 may face significant delays following recent layoffs impacting over 50 staff members, including a 27-year veteran. These cuts, part of broader Xbox layoffs, have raised fears about project timelines, potential reliance on contract labor, and a decline in studio morale, especially after the reception of Starfield.
"We are the best allies to game devs": Skyrim modder shows solidarity with laid off Bethesda workers by draping union logos across Tamriel
A Skyrim modder named Elianora has created a mod called 'United Front' to show solidarity with recently laid-off Bethesda workers. The mod adds union logos to shields and banners within the game, encouraging players to raise awareness for the 'Save Our Devs March' organized by the OneBGS union. This action aims to send a message to Microsoft regarding the recent layoffs affecting Bethesda and other Xbox-owned studios.
Xbox leader Asha Sharma has joined a US government task force for employment, days after announcing restructuring that has left thousands of people without jobs
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has joined a US Federal Reserve task force focused on productivity and employment, days after announcing a significant restructuring at Xbox that led to 3200 job losses. Sharma, who has a background in AI and previously worked at Meta, will advise on the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce.
'We mean business:' Xbox union workers fighting back with 'Save Our Devs' rally on July 15
Unionized workers at Bethesda Game Studios, under the OneBGS banner, are organizing a 'Save Our Devs' rally on July 15 to protest recent mass layoffs across Xbox and ZeniMax studios. The union aims to negotiate preferential transfers, stronger severance packages, and recall rights for affected employees, rejecting Microsoft's framing of the cuts as an 'entrepreneurial change'.
Evening Reading - July 9, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers various gaming news and features, including reviews for Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and Digimon Story, discussions on 2XKO and Guilty Gear Strive, and mentions of Microsoft's potential new Quake game. It also touches on industry layoffs and includes personal anecdotes and internet content.
Ode Poetry uses Microsoft AI to suggest human-read poems to users
Ode Poetry, a new platform developed by Microsoft AI in collaboration with William Sieghart's Poetry Pharmacy, uses artificial intelligence to recommend poems to users. The tool analyzes user responses to empathetic questions and then plays a human-read recording of a suggested poem. Currently, Ode Poetry is available in the UK, United States, and Canada.
Games Inbox: Which is worse out of Xbox and PlayStation?
Readers debate whether Microsoft's Xbox or Sony's PlayStation is worse, criticizing both for customer-unfriendly practices like microtransactions and the move away from physical media. Concerns are raised about EA's continued push for in-game purchases and the potential impact of digital-only games on preservation and long-term access.
id Software Now Has “Roughly the Same” Number of Workers as When it Made DOOM (2016) – Rumor
Reports suggest id Software's current workforce is similar to when it developed DOOM (2016), despite rumors of significant layoffs impacting its engine development and QA teams. Microsoft confirmed that dozens of employees work on the id Tech engine across multiple locations, refuting claims of a drastically reduced headcount. The studio will continue to use its proprietary id Tech engine, with no plans from Xbox to switch to Unreal Engine.
How do you put a price tag on a legacy like id Software's?
The article discusses the recent layoffs at id Software and contrasts Microsoft's handling of the studio's legacy with Costco's long-standing commitment to its $1.50 hot dog price. It questions Microsoft's stewardship of id Software's influential franchises like Doom and its proprietary id Tech engine, suggesting a lack of appreciation for their historical and creative value compared to their financial performance.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma joins US Federal Reserve as adviser on AI for "productivity and jobs" taskforce
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has been appointed as an external adviser to the US Federal Reserve, focusing on artificial intelligence's impact on productivity and jobs. Sharma will lead a taskforce assessing the economic effects of new technologies, including AI, to inform the Fed's policy decisions. This appointment comes shortly after Sharma announced significant layoffs at Xbox and follows her previous role leading Microsoft's CoreAI product group.
Quoteworthy
John Carmack commented on recent layoffs at id Software, expressing that his previous statement about Microsoft being a good steward of the brand is not holding up well. The article touches upon the significant job cuts impacting the studio.
John Carmack reacts to massive layoffs at id Software: 'My 'Microsoft will probably be a good steward of the…
Co-founder of id Software, John Carmack, has commented on the recent layoffs at the studio, expressing disappointment that his previous statement about Microsoft being a good steward of the brand "isn't aging well." While saddened, Carmack stated he doesn't "muster anger or outrage," suspecting id Software was a marginal business for Microsoft. He also discussed hypothetical strategies that could have prevented the team's decimation, while co-founder John Romero expressed grief for those affected.
Xbox layoff hatchetwoman & CEO tapped by Federal Reserve for 'jobs & productivity' task force
Asha Sharma, who recently oversaw layoffs of approximately 3,200 employees at Xbox, has been appointed as an advisor to a new Federal Reserve task force focused on jobs and productivity. Sharma, who has a background in artificial intelligence at Microsoft, will join other prominent figures to assess the economic impact of new technologies like AI.
Carmack says his 'Microsoft will be a good steward' of the id Software brand take didn't age well
Following significant layoffs at id Software amidst a broader Xbox reorganization, co-founder John Carmack expressed sadness and acknowledged that his previous statement about Microsoft being a good steward of the brand has not aged well. Carmack suspects id Software may have been a marginal business for Microsoft, contributing to the cuts despite recent releases like Doom: The Dark Ages.
Asha Sharma joins Federal Reserve advisory task force days after laying off thousands at Xbox
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has been appointed to a new US Federal Reserve task force focused on productivity and jobs, specifically examining the economic impact of artificial intelligence. This appointment follows Xbox's announcement of significant layoffs affecting thousands of employees and several game studios, including Double Fine and Ninja Theory.
US Federal Reserve taps Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who just laid off 3,200 employees, to lead task force on jobs
The Federal Reserve has appointed Xbox CEO Asha Sharma to lead a task force on employment and productivity. Sharma, who recently oversaw significant layoffs at Xbox, will work alongside other experts to assess the economic impact of new technologies like artificial intelligence. This appointment comes shortly after a major reorganization within Xbox, affecting studios like Mojang and King.
PlayStation ending physical games is "like Apple removing the CD Drive from its laptops," says analyst: "Not a single person is complaining about it today"
Analyst Daniel Ahmad compares Sony's move away from physical PlayStation games to Apple's removal of CD drives from laptops, arguing the shift to digital is inevitable. He cites high digital sales percentages and publisher preferences for higher margins, while also discussing the future cost of consoles and the importance of consumer rights in a digital-first market.
MMO Business Roundup: Marathon’s lawsuit, the Sony petition, TGS 2026, and Minecraft’s fate
This MMO business roundup covers several key events, including the settlement of a lawsuit filed by former Marathon game director Christopher Barrett against Sony and Bungie. It also highlights an online petition by PNP Games urging Sony to continue supporting physical media, which has garnered a significant number of signatures. Additionally, Nexon announced its presence at Tokyo Game Show, and an article from Gamespot questions Microsoft's strategy for Minecraft's future, suggesting a focus on competing with Roblox could be detrimental.
Elder Scrolls Online’s former CM: ‘I wouldn’t trade the past 18 years for anything’
Former Elder Scrolls Online community manager Gina Bruno expressed gratitude for her 18 years with the game following recent layoffs. She shared messages from players highlighting the game's positive impact on their lives and friendships. The article also touches on community reactions to the layoffs and misunderstandings regarding Microsoft's financial decisions.
Microsoft filing shows total ZeniMax layoffs at 379, with over half coming from Elder Scrolls Online studio that's lost at least 60% of its staff in the past year
Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax Media has resulted in significant layoffs, with a total of 379 employees affected across ZeniMax Online Studios and ZeniMax Media. ZeniMax Online Studios, the developer of The Elder Scrolls Online, has seen over half of its staff depart in the past year, reducing its workforce to approximately 40% of its previous size despite the game's consistent revenue.
