Former Elder Scrolls Online content designer Andrew Young took to X to voice his anger after ZeniMax Online Studios reportedly lost about fifty percent of its workforce in the most recent Xbox layoff wave. Young, who spent twelve years at the studio, said the cuts erased the “blood, sweat, and tears” that built ESO and left the remaining team in a bleak position.
The cuts follow a 2025 Microsoft restructuring that already forced game director Matt Firor to quit and led to the cancellation of the studio’s planned MMO, Project Blackbird. Community manager Jessica Folsom confirmed that the announced roadmap for new seasonal content will be adjusted, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the game’s future.
Young’s thread underscores a broader morale crisis, comparing the situation to Amazon’s shuttered MMO New World and warning that the deep staff reductions could jeopardize ESO’s long‑term health. While no further studio closures have been announced, the industry is watching closely to see whether ZeniMax can sustain development with a dramatically smaller team.
