Could Bethesda’s biggest games be affected by the latest layoffs?

Bethesda Game Studios and the wider Bethesda/ZeniMax family have been affected by Microsoft’s latest Xbox layoffs, and the news has worried many players across the gaming world. While Microsoft has not shared a clear number for Bethesda Game Studios alone, the cuts are part of a much larger restructuring across Xbox and its studios.

Bethesda’s biggest franchises face uncertainty

Bethesda’s union said that many workers at Bethesda Game Studios were affected by the layoffs. This is especially concerning because Bethesda is connected to some of the biggest and most loved franchises in gaming, including The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Starfield, Doom, Wolfenstein, and Quake. These are games with huge fanbases, long histories, and very high expectations for the future.

The layoffs also appear to have affected ZeniMax Online Studios, the developer behind The Elder Scrolls Online. That makes the situation even more important for fans of the MMO. The Elder Scrolls Online is a live-service game, which means it depends on regular updates, events, fixes, expansions, and community support. When a team working on a game like this loses experienced people, players naturally start wondering how future content could be affected.

For now, The Elder Scrolls Online is still active, and there is no official sign that the game is going away. Still, the layoffs raise fair questions about what comes next. ESO has grown into a massive online version of Tamriel, giving players years of quests, zones, dungeons, stories, and adventures to enjoy. Fans will be hoping that the remaining team gets the support it needs to keep the game moving forward.

There is also concern about the future of other Bethesda titles. Doom, for example, remains one of the most iconic action franchises in gaming, and many fans hope it will continue to receive the care and attention it deserves. The same goes for other major Bethesda and ZeniMax series that players have followed for years.

These layoffs are a worrying moment for the industry. Behind every big game are developers, artists, writers, designers, and many other people who make these worlds possible. Hopefully, Bethesda’s teams can continue building the amazing games players love.

If this news has made you want to return to Tamriel or try it for the first time, use our price comparison tool to find the best prices for The Elder Scrolls Online.