Following the recent round of layoffs at Xbox that hit ZeniMax Online Studios particularly hard, the team behind The Elder Scrolls Online is speaking out to clarify the game's future. While reports suggest that up to half of the development team was affected by the staff reductions, the studio has confirmed that work on the MMO is not coming to an end.

Quick Facts

  • ZeniMax Online Studios is currently working on a "revised roadmap" for the game.
  • The current team size is reportedly comparable to what it was between 2015 and 2018, the period during which the acclaimed Wrothgar and Summerset DLCs were released.
  • Game director Nick Giacomini and executive producer Susan Kath are currently overseeing the transition and prioritizing team welfare.

Community manager ZOS_Kevin addressed player concerns on the official The Elder Scrolls Online forums, stating that the studio is still committed to delivering new content. He noted that while the studio is planning a revised roadmap, the immediate focus for leadership is on "taking care of our team, in what has been understandably a difficult week."

The scale of the layoffs has naturally sparked anxiety regarding the game's long-term viability. However, insights from industry observers suggest that the current staffing levels do not necessarily signal a move toward maintenance mode. Baratron, an admin for the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages Discord, pointed out that the studio's current headcount matches the size of the team that produced some of the game's most highly regarded expansions, including Summerset.

Despite these assurances, the atmosphere remains tense. The layoffs at ZeniMax were part of a broader reduction across Xbox, which also impacted the development team for Fallout 76. With further layoffs anticipated throughout the year, players and staff alike are watching to see how these resource shifts will shape the future cadence of updates for both titles.

The ESO team expects to provide a more detailed update on their future content plans soon. For now, the message from the studio is clear: development is moving forward, albeit under a new, adjusted plan.