An Update from the ESO Team

thepandalore · July 6

what the actual was microsoft thinking, and who greenlit these layoffs in particular? trading human hands for what, copilot of all tools?
<edited for profanity/cursing>

Major_Soulless · July 6

A changing roadmap is totally understandable

Please send our regards to the team. Losing their friends must be hard.

MRusso89 · July 6

I've been playing on XBOX since day one of this game and no other singular news posted here has angered and saddened me so much. You all are so passionate about this game and help make it my favorite way to spend my time off. I've had the pleasure of meeting some of the team at cons and events and always enjoyed talking to you about the game, other games, whatever. This is such a huge loss and Microsoft has no idea how bad they've made this for themselves. I hope for the best for everyone affected by this poor management decision and hope they land somewhere they are more appreciated. God bless.

Thalmar · July 6

I really feel for many who lost their job, especially for Gina Bruno, but from my perspective it was expected...

The last year has been so chaotic, hectic and confusing. ESO team needed to decide who is their audience. They needed a plan, instead trying to make every type of player happy, go for their own core audience. Devs felt so over the place, kind of lost...

Jinxxy85 · July 6

Absolutely devastated to hear the news. I know the decisions would of been based on a business point of view, but it feels as though a huge piece of the family has just been stripped away from the community. My heart breaks for all those effected today and for the community as a whole.

Especially to Gina, who has always responded to and helped me with things over the many many years, thank you so much. I will heartbreakingly miss the Christmas cooking streams.

I hope you all find new opportunities soon!

Sin_Arcain · July 6

What a shocking and awful decision. How could ESO continue without these amazing people? This makes me worried for the future of the game. I am hoping against all odds this will be reverted.

My condolences for all of you who got laid off. I hope you will find a work place where you are appreciated and can be happy again.

Attorneyatlawl · July 6

So sorry to hear this.

wolfie1.0. · July 6

Erickson9610 wrote: »

It's heartbreaking to see so many incredible people at ZOS step away. I wish you all the best, and I hope for the best for ESO's future as well.

Most probably didnt step away... they were shoved out of the way.

CptTekashi · July 6

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

As we get ready to launch Season One this week, we wanted to reaffirm our commitment to The Elder Scrolls Online.

Our team’s immediate focus is on launching Season One, which we're all excited for you to jump in.

Looking beyond Season One, the roadmaps we previously shared will be shifting. We want to take the time to evaluate the work in front of us and then lock down an updated schedule. While we'd love to share a concrete details today, stepping back to get our plans straight will let us come back to you with a clear timeline.

This game is nothing without you, our community. Thank you for sticking with us, and for everything you bring to Tamriel.

- The ESO Team

I swear to god Jess if them have just caused the fall of ESO by firing half the team ... Im so angry

<edited for cursing/profanity>

Skorro · July 6

Speechless ... I unsubbed, I'm so sorry for all those affected ♥️

tsaescishoeshiner · July 6

I hope everyone who is leaving and those who remain are able to bounce back, find work worth their time, and take care.

Hopefully the new Seasonal release schedule allows ZOS to have flexibilty to release their current and planned projects when they're ready.

CatalinaWineMixer2 · July 6

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to those employees affected and their families. For all of the joy and entertainment you guys brought to all of us. This is sad news indeed. I cant believe they would lay off a 19 year employee. Someone please relay to Gina and Finn that, their friendly and heartwarming personalities and love for the game will be truly missed. And our sincerest best wishes to everyone affected by this unfortunate and terrible layoff decision.

Andreakoss · July 6

Thank you for everything you’ve poured into ESO, the creativity, the care, and the countless hours that shaped Tamriel into a world so many of us treasure.

Even in a moment of transition, your dedication shines through, and it means more than you know.
As you take the time to regroup and chart the path ahead, I hope the coming days bring clarity, support, and a bit of peace after what has surely been an incredibly difficult period.

Wishing every member of the team, past and present, strength, success, and good things in whatever comes next.
Tamriel carries your fingerprints everywhere, and we’re grateful for all of it.

Thanks again, and good luck!

Ciao.

QuinnTheWolf · July 6

microslop drains funding from everything just to fuel the malignant tumor they "created" (copilot ai)
wost of all, they hurt thousands of people, well tens of thousands! since the families of every zos employee and other studio's employees now are in financial troubles!
i pray for all of the victims of microslop's unjust firing that they find a new job... or if zos is smart and finds a way to split away from microslop, hope that these employees find their way back to zos!

why do real flesh and blood people have to suffer!
UGH i HATE microslop! i HATE ai!

and no, im pretty sure eso will be shut down in a year, maybe 2.... ALL because of microslop and its malignant tumor ai called copilot.
i have no hope at all....
im very sertain that zos, and any other company (game and no game companies) were only bought so microslop could squeeze every last penny out of them and kill it off when they finished this draining....

if your parrent company wasnt microslop, id have more optimism.
but i have 0 optimism... because microslop and the malignant tumor named copilot are the culprits.

LunaFlora · July 6

@ZOS_JessicaFolsom i wish you and the rest of ZOS a lot of luck and support ♥
the layoffs are really sad to read about.

LukosCreyden · July 6

Thank you guys, for creating a wonderful game for us! Its had its troubles, but ESO has been one of my favourite places to be, so thank you!

thechalkdust · July 6

[snip for profanity and flagrant violations of Community Rules]

Very sorry for the team.

I wish you all the best.

[snip for threats]

[snip for quitting]

ESO_player123 · July 6

StytchFingal wrote: »

Aliyavana wrote: »

It is sad that this has occurred, I hope you all are ok. You are all human and it is terrible when people are reduced to just numbers. You all deserve the best.

StytchFingal wrote: »

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

As we get ready to launch Season One this week, we wanted to reaffirm our commitment to The Elder Scrolls Online.

...

This game is nothing without you, our community. Thank you for sticking with us, and for everything you bring to Tamriel.

- The ESO Team

Hours of downtime for the EU server last night, and still no word of acknowledgement of it. That's some reaffirming.

Right now is not the best time for this.

You do realize that the corporation that laid a bunch of people off on a holiday weekend ordered the message at the beginning of this thread prioritized over any acknowledgment of, or apology for, the login server issues that locked out a significant portion of its customer base last night, right?

Is that apology really more important to you in light of the news that so many people lost their jobs?
----

Best wishes to all impacted people. I hope they will find new interesting positions soon.

Dojohoda · July 6

This is sad news. I wish the best for those let go. Thank you for your part in making this beautiful game.

AmishDefector · July 6

Since Microsoft is gutting gaming to focus on AI, can we replace their CEO with Clippy? In a more serious tone this is absolutely, horrible news. The ZOS team responsible for the past year of work, content and most importantly, communication was doing the absolute best job anyone has done since launch.

Thank you all for the amazing years and dedication. Microsoft might not value you appropriately, but we do.

Myrnhiel · July 6

I am so sorry... Being forced to leave after all those years, after having poured so much time, energy, enthusiasm and creativity into this game... this just makes me speechless.

I wish you all the best and may Y'ffre always shelter you in her palms!

Erickson9610 · July 6

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

As we get ready to launch Season One this week, we wanted to reaffirm our commitment to The Elder Scrolls Online.

Our team’s immediate focus is on launching Season One, which we're all excited for you to jump in.

Looking beyond Season One, the roadmaps we previously shared will be shifting. We want to take the time to evaluate the work in front of us and then lock down an updated schedule. While we'd love to share a concrete details today, stepping back to get our plans straight will let us come back to you with a clear timeline.

This game is nothing without you, our community. Thank you for sticking with us, and for everything you bring to Tamriel.

- The ESO Team

After letting this news sink in for a bit, I can start to feel hopeful for the future. I'm going to keep sticking with this game. Thank you ZOS for not giving up on us.

DrMedBorn · July 6

The only reason you can launch s1 is because it’s done. So is this game sadly

Parasaurolophus · July 6

I just don't understand how this works. So, is the company going to be left without animators, community managers, artists, and sound designers now? Or what? Or will all that work fall on the shoulders of junior staff?

Willythehippie · July 6

I hate that it's come to this. You guys made such an incredible game. Thank you so much for all your hard work and effort. You're work has introduced me to so many amazing people. I have such incredibly fond memories in this game. It's hard to imagine a world without ESO.

I know what's left of the team is going to work so hard to keep this game alive. Just know that if the game dies its not your fault. All of you that put your blood, sweat, and tears into this game just know we all appreciate you. I wish everyone laid off the absolute best of luck and I can't wait to follow your next steps and see what you create next!

Much love!

Personofsecrets · July 6

The organization that I work for encourages the use of an AI tool. It's great for simple things like searching e-mail for a document, but it's hilariously bad at figuring out the problems that I determine answers to on a day-to-day basis.

A changing road map is perfectly a-okay. It has to be. I just hope that balance is worked on in a way that it is held up above all other game aspects.

It's sort of wild to me how good some classes have it compared to others. Even DK, which has recently got reworked, has issues that other classes don't have to deal with. For example, depending on using the ultimate or class dots for so many class masteries put DK at a disadvantage when it came to using shattered path signet or when it comes to using werewolf.

The class masteries were even suggested as a way to make up passives that were removed from the class. It's wild that that the class rework had that issue to begin with, but then the class mastery passives ended up being a different kind of liability in the context of the current metagames. I don't really understand how this can happen.

Anyhow, again, it's good for better balancing to be done. If we are ever in a state where the game can't be worked on in certain ways for whatever reasons, then we will not want to deal with balance issues during that interim time.

biovitalb16_ESO · July 6

Massive red flag when half the team is gutted....what a great game but this is a really bad sign for the future.

Prionyx · July 6

My heart goes out to everyone at ZOS who has been affected by the recent layoffs... Thank you to everyone who poured their passion and talent into making ESO what it is today. Your work has brought countless hours of joy to so many of us, and it won't be forgotten. Wishing all of you the very best and hoping you find new opportunities soon.

Tra_Lalan · July 6

Sorry for all the employes affected by layoffs. Thank you for all your work in creating this world that served us all as a good escape from everydays troubles.

Felt like ESO was going in the right direction recently, many players came back, many long term players were finally satisfied. People were willing to spend more money on this game.

Today's news are devastating.

chongguang · July 6

To be honest , rework 7 classes costs 2 years and not good feedback to new methods since S0. I have to say ESO would not be a good product to maintain to MSFT.
There would be only 3 possible ends for the game :
1. Successfully ask support from MSFT and make the game great again.(Almost impossible)
2. Finish everything on the map of this year then make a story to give vestige a good ending and put the game into maintainence mode to give fans a memory to play.
3. Shunt down the server some day in future ,still hope you would give a good ending to vestige if this path really pick up.