Microsoft’s latest round of Xbox-related layoffs, affecting around 1,600 jobs and involving additional studio restructuring, leads to uncertainty for teams retained at Zenimax Online Studios, the developer of Elder Scrolls Online (ESO). Multiple reports say Zenimax Online Studios is now adjusting its plans for ESO after the layoffs, with the ESO roadmap described as “shifting” shortly before the release of Season One.
Earlier, Zenimax Online Studios had announced a move away from yearly expansions toward a seasonal release model, and sources describe Season One as being close to launch when the layoffs were announced. One outlet reports that Zenimax Online Studios’ community manager outlines the team’s immediate focus for Season One following the job cuts, while other reporting emphasizes the operational impact, including team reductions and loss of senior staff.
Across the accounts, the common thread is that Xbox’s staffing changes force Zenimax Online Studios to rebuild or revise aspects of the ESO roadmap that had been prepared for the seasonal release rollout. The reports do not provide a detailed list of which features or deliverables change, but they characterize the near-term effort as refocusing resources to deliver Season One under the new staffing situation.
