Who is our new Studio Head?

Radiate77 · July 2

While Firor said our new studio head is going to be Jo Burba, I would like to get to know who he is a bit better if we’re all to trust that he’ll maintain the integrity of this game after Matt is gone.

Anyone have any links to past projects? Has he been vocal in support of certain changes within the game? Genuinely curious.

Radiate77 · July 2

Found a linkedin, and man is it interesting.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cuppajo

Producer for 2K, and having worked with NCsoft. Idk how to feel about this, but he must be doing something right if he just took over Studio Head of ZOS.

Malyore · July 2

Radiate77 wrote: »

Found a linkedin, and man is it interesting.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cuppajo

Producer for 2K, and having worked with NCsoft. Idk how to feel about this, but he must be doing something right if he just took over Studio Head of ZOS.

"Doing something right" may be only be right for career advancement rather than actual right for games, players, coworkers, etc. It's difficult to say what goes on in places like Microsoft and its adopted studios.

Elsonso · July 2

He is the ESO Live Services Director and has been with the game since forever. As I remember, he is Kevin and Gina's boss as well as the one who runs the servers.

Radiate77 · July 2

Malyore wrote: »

Radiate77 wrote: »

Found a linkedin, and man is it interesting.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cuppajo

Producer for 2K, and having worked with NCsoft. Idk how to feel about this, but he must be doing something right if he just took over Studio Head of ZOS.

"Doing something right" may be only be right for career advancement rather than actual right for games, players, coworkers, etc. It's difficult to say what goes on in places like Microsoft and its adopted studios.

That’s honestly what I’m worried about.

I would love a “get to know Jo” post; going over his favorite parts of ESO, and what projects he spearheaded over the years as part of the team.

Radiate77 · July 2

Elsonso wrote: »

He is the ESO Live Services Director and has been with the game since forever. As I remember, he is Kevin and Gina's boss as well as the one who runs the servers.

Yeah, I noticed that; really anticipating a message from him to the community following everything that has happened.

ZOS_Kevin · July 3

We’ll have more from Jo later on. The team is still working some things out given the news. So please give us some time here. One thing I will personally say, Jo has been a part of the team for a long time and a trusted member of the team. He has been instrumental in my hiring and career development here at ZOS. He’s got big shoes to fill, as Matt has been a powerhouse and advocate for the team from day one. But Jo is more than up for the task and we are in good hands.

Erickson9610 · July 3

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

We’ll have more from Jo later on. The team is still working some things out given the news. So please give us some time here. One thing I will personally say, Jo has been a part of the team for a long time and a trusted member of the team. He has been instrumental in my hiring and career development here at ZOS. He’s got big shoes to fill, as Matt has been a powerhouse and advocate for the team from day one. But Jo is more than up for the task and we are in good hands.

Thank you for this response, Kevin. I'm happy to hear that the team believes that they're in good hands.

Radiate77 · July 3

Thanks @ZOS_Kevin for the reassurance!

I’m glad that he’s good to your team, and I can’t wait to hear more about his part in the development of ESO and what his vision for the future of the game is.

Defatank · July 3

@ZOS_Kevin PR done right

Thank you for reassuring the community that ESO is continuing to press forward.

Matt F. As it's been said numerous times and can not be said enough, Thank you for everything you've done, everything that every single team member past and present has done for the game. ESO has been and always will be a labor of love from the development team and the community standing behind it

We are all looking forward to what the team will do next and the community is here as always

Tendrielle · July 3

@ZOS_MattFiror thank you for your years of dedication to co-create this wonderful game, and blessings to your new endeavors, wherever that will be.

Destai · July 3

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

We’ll have more from Jo later on. The team is still working some things out given the news. So please give us some time here. One thing I will personally say, Jo has been a part of the team for a long time and a trusted member of the team. He has been instrumental in my hiring and career development here at ZOS. He’s got big shoes to fill, as Matt has been a powerhouse and advocate for the team from day one. But Jo is more than up for the task and we are in good hands.

More worried about us as players and consumers being in good hands. It’s admirable that he’s an advocate for the team, but I also hope he’s an advocate for players.

Pevey · July 3

A team that is not taken care of will not take care with customers. It’s true in any business ever.

Elsonso · July 3

Destai wrote: »

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

We’ll have more from Jo later on. The team is still working some things out given the news. So please give us some time here. One thing I will personally say, Jo has been a part of the team for a long time and a trusted member of the team. He has been instrumental in my hiring and career development here at ZOS. He’s got big shoes to fill, as Matt has been a powerhouse and advocate for the team from day one. But Jo is more than up for the task and we are in good hands.

More worried about us as players and consumers being in good hands. It’s admirable that he’s an advocate for the team, but I also hope he’s an advocate for players.

That we will need to see. Jo Burba has been very much behind the curtain all of these years. I think I have seen him once. No one ever talks about him in the community. At least, not yet.

I also failed to note that he was promoted from Live Services Director to Studio General Manager a year ago. I guess I need to check the credits more often.

Tra_Lalan · July 3

If he is responsible for hiring Kevin then he already earned some points in my notebook.
Kevin is the best QoL we got in this game in many years

Lets try to stay positive and wait what time will brings us.

Katheriah · July 3

@Jo give Kev a raise!

StihlReign · July 3

How awesome is this! A new studio director and a refocusing of funds. Looks like great news for ESO.

Warhawke_80 · July 3

Radiate77 wrote: »

Found a linkedin, and man is it interesting.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cuppajo

Producer for 2K, and having worked with NCsoft. Idk how to feel about this, but he must be doing something right if he just took over Studio Head of ZOS.

Yeah He worked on Vigils never released Dark Millennium Online which was set in the 40k universe...that is one game I regret never releasing

Personofsecrets · July 4

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

We’ll have more from Jo later on. The team is still working some things out given the news. So please give us some time here. One thing I will personally say, Jo has been a part of the team for a long time and a trusted member of the team. He has been instrumental in my hiring and career development here at ZOS. He’s got big shoes to fill, as Matt has been a powerhouse and advocate for the team from day one. But Jo is more than up for the task and we are in good hands.

Does Jo play Tales of Tribute? What are his 2 favorite Patrons?

Radiate77 · July 4

Personofsecrets wrote: »

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

We’ll have more from Jo later on. The team is still working some things out given the news. So please give us some time here. One thing I will personally say, Jo has been a part of the team for a long time and a trusted member of the team. He has been instrumental in my hiring and career development here at ZOS. He’s got big shoes to fill, as Matt has been a powerhouse and advocate for the team from day one. But Jo is more than up for the task and we are in good hands.

Does Jo play Tales of Tribute? What are his 2 favorite Patrons?

Lmao good question.

Vrelanier · July 4

What's his ping?

Darkstorne · July 4

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

We’ll have more from Jo later on. The team is still working some things out given the news. So please give us some time here. One thing I will personally say, Jo has been a part of the team for a long time and a trusted member of the team. He has been instrumental in my hiring and career development here at ZOS. He’s got big shoes to fill, as Matt has been a powerhouse and advocate for the team from day one. But Jo is more than up for the task and we are in good hands.

@ZOS_Kevin In the meantime, for whatever it's worth, please spread the word among your entire team that you are all immensely appreciated here. I can't even imagine what you're all going through right now with how sudden this is, and how many of your colleagues are departing. So just... yeah... ❤️

ArchMikem · July 4

Destai wrote: »

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

We’ll have more from Jo later on. The team is still working some things out given the news. So please give us some time here. One thing I will personally say, Jo has been a part of the team for a long time and a trusted member of the team. He has been instrumental in my hiring and career development here at ZOS. He’s got big shoes to fill, as Matt has been a powerhouse and advocate for the team from day one. But Jo is more than up for the task and we are in good hands.

More worried about us as players and consumers being in good hands. It’s admirable that he’s an advocate for the team, but I also hope he’s an advocate for players.

When it comes to the business a Director's Employees should always come first, and by extension of making your Employees happy and cared for also means caring for the community that funds their paychecks. We as customers don't need to come first to be in good hands. Happy Studio equals happy Game.

Elsonso · July 4

Vrelanier wrote: »

What's his ping?

Also, his DPS and which build he is using, does he put his pets away in towns, and has he ever left anything behind in a chest or resource node?

Varana · July 4

As a rite of passage, he needs to stream Templar gameplay in Battlegrounds.

James-Wayne · July 7

We dont know if Jo is just taking over temporarily as the exit was sudden while they appoint someone else or if he actually permanently stepped up as he was next in line but just need to wait and see how this plays out as its a big change for the entire dev team seeing Matt was there at the start.

I do wish Matt all the very best, he always came across as passionate with a willingness to resolve whatever was thrown at him.

Dock01 · July 7

Radiate77 wrote: »

Found a linkedin, and man is it interesting.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cuppajo

Producer for 2K, and having worked with NCsoft. Idk how to feel about this, but he must be doing something right if he just took over Studio Head of ZOS.

2k ???? Are you kidding me? That game has worse monetization than any other game in existence, next to EA, lol. I love the positive outlook, but well, it's going to get much worse. My hands are off; since 95% of my friends have been long gone, I'm about to follow suit. Slowly, i still have friends here lol but wow not a surprise people missed that part

i just hope he remembers this isn't free to play, its pay to play everything

goboltz · August 1

Radiate77 wrote: »

While Firor said our new studio head is going to be Jo Burba, I would like to get to know who he is a bit better if we’re all to trust that he’ll maintain the integrity of this game after Matt is gone.

Anyone have any links to past projects? Has he been vocal in support of certain changes within the game? Genuinely curious.

https://www.mobygames.com/person/618550/jo-burba/
He's been there since the beginning, and helped on Doom , Doom Eternal . . .
As Long as he's not "Moving over from Microsoft" , we're good !

anadandy · August 1

https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/68513

ZOS_Kevin · August 1

Just following up here. We just published a letter from Jo and have a dedicate forum thread for it: https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/681384/official-discussion-thread-for-introducing-zos-s-new-studio-head-jo-burba#latest

MincMincMinc · August 1

We really want to know whether the pvp server tests will be allowed to continue, or are we going to be focused on crown store market releases for another 5 years on a game that is hardly playable.

If an mmo's gameplay becomes unplayable, is it really a game anymore or just a social media hub to hang out in? Food for thought.