Key facts
- Microsoft is implementing significant layoffs across its workforce, including at Bethesda and id Software.
- A substantial portion of the team behind The Elder Scrolls Online has been affected.
- Bethesda President Jill Braff indicated a strategic shift towards focusing on the company's most successful franchises.
- The layoffs are part of a broader plan by Microsoft to reduce its workforce by 1,600 employees this fiscal year.
Microsoft has reportedly laid off a significant number of employees at its gaming studios Bethesda and id Software. According to reports, up to half of the team responsible for The Elder Scrolls Online has been affected. Bethesda President Jill Braff acknowledged the impact in an email to staff, stating that the company must "change course" and focus on its strongest franchises to ensure sustainable growth.
An id Software employee, Maynard, expressed sadness on LinkedIn about the fate of the FPS pioneer, describing it as a "reorganization" of assets. The layoffs at Bethesda are described as particularly hard-hitting, leaving remaining employees facing an uncertain future as Microsoft plans further reductions.