Farewell, Matt.

Radiate77 · July 2

Cooperharley wrote: »

Thanks Matt!

Although this does make me wonder - with the new IP now scrapped, does this mean more money will go into ESO??

Depends why Matt left.

If he was forced out in PR terms, then yes.
If he actually did step down, then no.

I can’t imagine a world where someone’s passion project is about to get hit with a defibrillator and then the creator of said project abandons it as a result.

anadandy · July 3

wenchmore420b14_ESO wrote: »

Good luck Matt! I haven't been this sad at some one leaving since Loremaster Lawrence Schick left.
Huzzah to you good sir and your future endeavors.

Same! Thank you, Matt. Bon chance!

majulook · July 3

Matt, I wish you fair winds and fallowing seas.

Rohamad_Ali · July 3

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newnamtab · July 3

THANK YOU, Matt!

Hopefully you'll leave some of that gentle spirit soul glow with the game.

This game you've helped build, and poured your soul into, has touched the lives of so many, and brought sanctuary to millions of players, who escaped from WoW's and Diablo's everywhere.

Hope to meet you someday, here or there, when the winds blow softly over grassy fields, instead of blood drenched war lands.

God speed
(and please let me know, if you need help with a new gaming adventure

)

Tra_Lalan · July 3

Thank You Matt for al your work in creating this game.

I've been playing video games all my life, and ESO is still my favourite one.

Good luck in whatever you are going to do next.

MasterSpatula · July 3

Matt, the passion you felt for this game endures in its players. From total cheerleaders to the harshest critics and everything in between, people care deeply about this game. It genuinely matters to people. That's a beautiful thing, and something you can take pride in forever.

Desiato · July 3

Cooperharley wrote: »

Thanks Matt!

Although this does make me wonder - with the new IP now scrapped, does this mean more money will go into ESO??

Why would it? This isn't a private company and never has been. It started as a wholly owned subsidiary of Zenimax and is now owned by Microsoft. It would have its own budget controlled from the top.

Furthermore it seems Project Blackbird was at a very early stage in development despite starting in 2018, so the theory that many had -- including me -- that it had sapped meaningful development resources from ESO seem inaccurate. But who knows.

With that said, the ZOS and Bethesda studios -- as well as other zenimax studios -- have been known to share resources. Of course in this day and age, physical location is kind of irrelevant and they are all ultimately Microsoft/Zenimax employees.

The question I now have is what have ESO artists been working on the past year if it wasn't the 2025 content pass or Blackbird? Because what we've seen so far of the content pass is heavy in art asset re-use. Perhaps they've been working on a Bethesda project rumored to be deep in development.

I know a lot of people scoff at any mention of TES6, but there have been a steady stream of leaks related to it over the past year. What's being said is that insiders are playing an early build and there is a new trailer within Microsoft. That could be what the mia artists are working on.

This could be extremely relevant to ESO because selling chapters to TES fans has been the focus of ESO since the first chapter, Morrowind. IF TES6 is on the horizon, traditional ESO chapters would be redundant as TES6 will surely take over the reins of major story TES content DLC for the foreseeable future after its release.

That may be why ESO has transitioned from chapters to the more ambiguous content pass. The Oblivion Remaster released this year may have also been a factor. They understand TES fans only have so much time and money to spend on TES games.

I'm not making any claims, only speculating. Horizon may still mean years away. But it could still be impacting ESO.

In terms of why Matt is leaving, in general when someone is forced out it happens immediately, so I would guess that didn't happen.

xencthlu · July 3

I wish you well, Matt. I noticed how much you went to bat for your team. I hope your successor protects them and advocates for them as much as you did.

StormBlade512 · July 3

Sad to see you go, Matt

Artem_gig · July 3

I just recently watched all the Teso podcasts... Sad...

PDarkBHood · July 3

I am very sad to hear about these layoffs. I want to wish the very best to those affected and wish you all the very best in your future endeavors. Wishing well for Matt. Thank you for all your incredible hard work, ESO is the best MOO I have ever played, your legacy will live on through ESO.

ImmortalCX · July 3

Surviving, yet alone thriving for two decades in video game industry is quite the achievement.

<snipped out removed quote>

Ingenon · July 3

Thank you, Matt and the team, for all the hard work you have put into making ESO such a great game to play!

Desiato · July 3

IMO Blackbird barely got off the ground. We started hearing about it in the wake of changes in ESO.

My pure guess is Blackbird was an effort to develop a project to transition ZOS staff to as ESO transitions to its next phase. It may have never been "greenlit" per se, but rather was an advanced concept.

I also guess Matt didn't want to oversee any level of winding down and decided this was a good time for him to exit.

I'm not jumping to conclusions. I'm speculating. No one should jump to conclusions. At no level do I believe this is the end of ESO. But it could be the end of big budget ESO.

What I think the 2025 Content represents is what ESO's MMO revenue can sustain without chapters. I'm honestly okay with that. There's enough art assets in the game that they could create cool new content with for years. I don't care about voice acted stories.

The only part I wasn't on board with was being charged the same as a full chapter, but it's possible that's what will be necessary. Not only is ESO changing, but the global economy is in the process of an upheaval. All companies are finding efficiencies in advance of this.

Dyngrin · July 3

/salute Matt Firor

Thanks for DAoC and ESO Cyrodiil, good times!

--Dyn

AllenaNightWood · July 3

Thanks Matt for the epic adventures this was my first MMO you will truly be missed

demonology89 · July 3

ESO was my first Elder Scrolls game as well as my first MMO. The memories I've built here will be forever cherished. In fact, I met my fiance in ESO and we are getting married in May of next year. Thank you sir and to the rest of the ESO team for this amazing game. You will be missed Matt. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

ujimax · July 3

Thank you Matt for all the joy both you and the development team brought to us, the players. Other emotions no need be even mentioned.

Wish you good health, happiness, success in future endeavours and the continuous gift of wonder over any cynical pragmatism.

Human capital and experience are not just inconvenient overhead costs.
And especially sorry to hear about the circumstances. And timing.

Valion · July 3

Farewell, Commander Firor.

redlink1979 · July 3

@ZOS_MattFiror
"May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand."

ForumBully · July 3

Even if Firor wasn't a layoff casualty, higher ups usually aren't, a lot of developers got the axe here. Best of luck to all!

Kelenan7368 · July 3

I love this game you lead to create. I don't like it when corporations take over and remove the ability to lead and create from the people that build the place.
I hope everyone lands on their feet quickly and without any hardship!

Goodluck to you all and may your journey know nothing but joy!

LalMirchi · July 3

Immense thanks Matt, all the best in the future!

Carcamongus · July 3

Farewell, Matt Firor. I've spent thousands of hours, almost two full years, enjoying what you helped create. I don't have plans to go anywhere, though I wonder if these departures and layoffs are a bad omen.

fakingfocused · July 3

Thank you Matt, for all you have done to bring us this amazing world! You absolutely knocked ESO out of the park! I genuinely cannot think of another game that rivals ESO (skyrim the only possibility-that would be a debate) You will be missed. Best of luck on the road ahead. Thanks for bring this game to life!

TheImperfect · July 3

Thanks for everything you have done and the great streams.

Elvenheart · July 4

@ZOS_MattFiror Dark Age of Camelot was my very first MMO (unless I count AOL's Neverwinter Nights, which I sometimes do with fond recollections). DAoC was the game that hooked me forever into loving online games for their "aliveness" verses single-player games. I remember the first time riding up from the southern starting area and passing Stonehenge on my right in order to reach Camelot. It was night time in DAoC, and Stonehenge was bathed in moonlight. Until DAoC, that was something I could only imagine when reading books set in the Arthurian mythos, and then thanks to DAoC I was doing it in a game! And now, many years later, I've been experiencing Tamriel for 11 years in ways I never could have if ESO didn't exist, and both of these experiences were shaped and guided by you, Matt. So you have had a hand in charting the course of my gaming life long before I had ever even heard your name, and I just want to say thank you for that and for everything else you've done behind the scenes that brought both of these wonderful experiences to life.

Vulkunne · July 4

Matt,

Fair well, best wishes and thanks again for all your time and dedication into making ESO such an amazing game.

Sylvia211264 · July 4

Dear Matt, thank you for your work and the wonderful experiences and adventures you and your team created. Walking through Tamriel will not be the same without you. All the best for you.