The Elder Scrolls Online Studio Layoffs Affect 213 Employees

ZeniMax Online Studios has laid off 213 employees, a significant portion of its workforce, following Microsoft's broader layoffs impacting Xbox. This reduction has led to a shift in the content roadmap for the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online. Former employees expressed disappointment and concern over the impact on the game's development and the team's well-being.

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COMPANY Microsoft
COMPANY ZeniMax
COMPANY Xbox
COMPANY ZeniMax Online Studios
GAME The Elder Scrolls Online

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7 articles · 3 sources 8 days ago

ZeniMax Studios Hit by Significant Xbox Layoffs

ZeniMax Media is undergoing substantial staff reductions across its studios. ZeniMax Online Studios, developer of Elder Scrolls Online, has reportedly lost half its content team. While Bethesda is said to be stable, other ZeniMax divisions face deep cuts.

COMPANY Microsoft
GAME The Elder Scrolls Online
COMPANY ZeniMax Online Studios

Sources covering this · 3

The Elder Scrolls Online's developer deserved better than to get sucker-punched by Microsoft twice in two yearsMicrosoft's recent layoffs at ZeniMax Online Studios, impacting an estimated 60% of the workforce, are criticized as cruel and short-sighted. Despite The Elder Scrolls Online's profitability and a recent positive shift in player sentiment and development strategy, the studio has faced significant workforce reductions, including the cancellation of the long-in-development Project Blackbird. This analysis argues that these cuts jeopardize the future of the MMO and the Elder Scrolls franchise's presence in the gaming landscape. PC Gamer · 3 days ago
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 yearMicrosoft'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. PC Gamer · 5 days ago
Xbox had laid off 379 Zenimax workers in MarylandMicrosoft's Xbox division has laid off 379 employees across ZeniMax Media Inc. and ZeniMax Online Studios in Maryland. The cuts, effective September 4, 2026, impact 213 workers at The Elder Scrolls Online developer and 166 at ZeniMax Media Inc. This follows a broader trend of job reductions at Xbox, with a total of 3,200 roles being cut across the division. Gamedeveloper.com · 5 days ago

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