Bethesda has stated that the development roadmap for The Elder Scrolls 6 has not been impacted by recent mass layoffs across Xbox's various subsidiaries, pushing back against fears raised by current and former staff.

Quick Facts

  • Publisher/Developer: Bethesda
  • Platforms: PC, Xbox Series S/X
  • Context: Microsoft eliminated 1,600 jobs across Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, and Activision Blizzard as part of a restructuring effort, with another 1,600 cuts planned over the next year.

Bethesda Responds to Layoff Concerns

Earlier this month, Xbox initiated what it described as a business "reset." The restructuring resulted in the closure of four first-party studios and 1,600 job cuts across Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, and Activision Blizzard. With the publisher hit particularly hard by the reductions, questions arose regarding how the cuts would affect ongoing projects.

When asked whether the sweeping layoffs had altered the timeline for The Elder Scrolls 6, Bethesda told YouTuber MrMattyPlays that production on the highly anticipated fantasy RPG is proceeding as planned. "No, the roadmap is unaffected," the studio stated.

Prior to this update, Bethesda shared that it was happy with its progress on the game, stating that the team is "where we planned to be, loving how it looks, and playing it every day."

Staff Fears and Industry Impact

Despite official assurances from leadership, employee sentiment paints a more complicated picture. IGN reported that several developers expressed fear that the cuts would lead to potential delays, increased crunch culture, and an over-reliance on contractors unfamiliar with Bethesda's proprietary game development technology.

The wider impact of the restructuring is already visible elsewhere within the publisher's portfolio. The Elder Scrolls Online is currently struggling with team bandwidth after developer ZeniMax Online Studios lost well over 100 team members, prompting the team to limit an in-game item store.

Additionally, labor unions have criticized leadership for using positive news about major franchises like Fallout 5 and The Elder Scrolls 6 to distract from the scale of the layoffs. Whether the worker reductions ultimately alter the long-term timeline for The Elder Scrolls 6 remains to be seen as development continues.