An Update from the ESO Team

Lagzee · July 6

microsoft has been a black cloud hanging over this game since they bought it. It was only a matter of time until they did this again, and again, and again. And it will only be a matter of time until they just kill it. Hopefully we are many years away from that, but this is a terrible look.

I havent felt hopeful about eso since like 2020. Until the last year. Everything has been looking so much better. I dont always agree with the changes, and there are plenty of issues to address, but everything that has been announced looks great. The communication has been awesome. And dev team working with the community, instead of against them, most of the time, feels good. And now this looks to derail all of that. Hopefully not though. Hopefully this team can make it through and stay on this new path, somehow. But this sucks all around. Sorry to the team. Microsoft is awful.

LennaTheRussian · July 6

So dumb that Microsoft can legally just buy up a bunch of studios and then start doing mass layoffs in bulk and studio closures.
This is why monopolies suck.

baratron · July 6

It's only been a year since the last round of layoffs. Those mostly affected ZoS staff working on Project Blackbird, but we lost good local Community Managers too. The UK CM team was stripped from 3 people to 0, and we merged with Nordics. I haven't heard from the UK and Nordics CM at all since then, I'm not sure if she's even in place.

This is just awful. All of it is awful. How are they even choosing who to fire? Throwing darts at team photographs while blindfolded?

code65536 · July 6

I read the letter that the Xbox CEO sent, in which she placed blame on the "most severe hardware crisis in history". How convenient it is for her to ignore that Microsoft spending $80 billion in a single year in 2025, mostly on buying GPUs and building datacenters for AI, is a big reason why there is a "severe hardware crisis".

More than anything, that part of the letter made my blood boil.

Achernar · July 6

I'm so saddened to hear this awful news. Here's wishing the best of luck to everyone on the team--those affected by the layoffs as well as those who must remain to pick up the pieces. Microsoft has been a terrible steward of this and so many other wonderful games. It's a true shame.

Vonnegut2506 · July 6

baratron wrote: »

It's only been a year since the last round of layoffs. Those mostly affected ZoS staff working on Project Blackbird, but we lost good local Community Managers too. The UK CM team was stripped from 3 people to 0, and we merged with Nordics. I haven't heard from the UK and Nordics CM at all since then, I'm not sure if she's even in place.

This is just awful. All of it is awful. How are they even choosing who to fire? Throwing darts at team photographs while blindfolded?

They are letting their AI decide for them. It is the future after all.

Lyterette · July 6

This unexpected news was devastating to see this morning. I'm still reeling. I can't believe so many people have been laid off. Microsoft has no love for this game, nor any game. This is sickening. This game has been such a success, I'm not sure I understand what in the world Microsoft is looking for. The whole dev team has the support of its community. You have made an amazing world for us and a beautiful Tamriel!

spartaxoxo · July 6

code65536 wrote: »

I read the letter that the Xbox CEO sent, in which she placed blame on the "most severe hardware crisis in history". How convenient it is for her to ignore that Microsoft spending $80 billion in a single year in 2025, mostly on buying GPUs and building datacenters for AI, is a big reason why there is a "severe hardware crisis".

More than anything, that part of the letter made my blood boil.

Yes. This isn't about studio performances. This is about AI. And XBOX trying to force AI to work.

ETA
Even if I were to use AI at this point it would not be XBOX's. I actually do have an XBOX. I was gonna sub to gamepass but not anymore.

SkaiFaith · July 6

So many thoughts and emotions to express, things I'd want to say and say them clear... Not all about ESO, not all about ZOS, not all about XBOX, not all about Microsoft, not all about AI, not all about US or EU... But I won't say anything. I don't feel my words could make justice to today's situation. - A wise man here on this forum once said "actions speak louder than words".

Leighlaa · July 6

The news today is super scary.... I hope Gina and Finn are ok

If they, somehow, aren't seen as necessary....... anyone could be next. This frightens me. Does ESO not bring in enough money? Is this all to support their AI cash cow? I just don't understand and wish I had answers.

Mostly though, my heart goes out to any team members, especially Gina and Finn, who got this horrible, life-shattering, devastating, slap in the face. The ESO community sees you and will miss you. I'm not sure who to write to and complain

ArchMikem · July 6

The A.I. Arms Race is going to butcher gaming as we know it. I honestly thought Microsoft Games were the good guys for a long while but it just goes to show no corporation can ever be trusted. I'm debating canceling my ESO+ over this.

Tenthirty2 · July 6

My heartfelt condolences for all affected :'(

Reginald_leBlem · July 6

The last few rounds of dungeons have all been excellent, the most recent zones have had fun stories and beautiful landscapes, to see so many creative jobs chopped is heartbreaking.

arena25 · July 6

Let me start by saying the following:

To Jessica and the rest of the team who survived today's layoffs: Take whatever time you need to process this. Losing ~50% of your studio to layoffs, especially when that 50% is working on future content, is not something i would wish on even my worst enemy. I think I speak for the majority of the community when we say if there is anything we can do, just name it.

That out of the way...

This industry is going in a very concerning direction, and it is one which I fear is going to end with extremely disastrous results for all. Sony/Playstation moving away from physical media and even outright canceling and removing digital content people paid for was a very worrying sign. Microsoft laying off half of ZeniMax's/Bethesda's staff - and I don't even want to know how hard those under the ABK umbrella got hit with this round of layoffs, to say nothing of the other studios Microsoft acquired - is already infuriating (and yes, trimming double digit layers of management down to single digits is I suppose good in the sense of reducing bureaucracy/quicker decision making, but one has to wonder how you got to that many layers of management in the first place...before anyone said anything). Now add in the fact the layoffs/reset for Xbox are all boiling down to Microsoft trying to make AI work, and this all leads down a road that, when the AI bubble bursts (and yes, I said when, and you can't convince me otherwise), will end disastrously for everyone. Games. People playing games. Studios working on those games. Developers working for the studios. All falling down like a house of cards. And worse, it won't just be the gaming industry, it will be anyone and everything involving tech...but that's banter for another thread in another forum entirely.

OutLaw_Nynx · July 7

Microsoft is killing this company. I am so sorry for all the devs that are being let go because of the CEO.

Absolutely disgusting and I’m angry for you all. Ai is not the answer and never will be. You cannot substitute human intelligence and interaction with an AI Slop machine.

Colindestiny2 · July 7

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.

Bro Now isn't the time for this Please delete this!

Colindestiny2 · July 7

Also I feel so bad and terrible for all the devs that got laid off . the devs are one of the greatest and I still have eso installed and I am going to come back for update 51 because I wanna support eso and this really sucks Im sorry

dcrush · July 7

All the best to those were laid off and all the best to those who did not because their workload and sense of safety will be massively affected.

Also, if this means ESO is going to get AI generated slop then I’d rather see them pull the plug on the game completely. Generative AI is a disease that needs to be eradicated from society and I don’t want to have the fond memories I have of ESO be tainted by AI.

shadoza · July 7

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

If you have to cut something, please don't cut the Solo content.

Imperial_Archmage · July 7

I heard about this on Wowhead of all places, they were doing a story about the Microsoft AI layoffs. No way to sugarcoat this, it’s a massive disappointment and doesn’t bode well for the future of the game. This happening right in the midst of the class refresh and general modernization of the game can only mean the Microsoft overlords don’t have confidence it can turn things around and aren’t willing to invest any more resources into ESO. Which is ironic considering that the reason so many players were turned off by the Season of the Worm was precisely because they didn’t give you enough resources to make a proper expansion and forced you to recycle old assets.

I’ve been a subscribing player from the time ESO first launched and I’ve affectionately referred to it as my “comfort MMO” for years, it’s gonna be really sad to see it go just like so many other great franchises just because some corporate beancounter decided it’s not profitable but also isn’t willing to invest in it to make it profitable. This has been a plague on the entertainment industry writ large for decades now and I hate how it’s affecting gaming as well.

My advice to the devs is this: don’t feel like you owe them anything, least of all your loyalty. If they’re willing to pull the rug out from under you in this underhanded way do the same to them! Don’t worry about the players we are resilient and used to this by now and will cope, focus on yourselves and your families instead.

LonePirate · July 7

A financially healthy game doesn't do things that put it in a position of endangerment. Another domino has fallen and I suspect there are not many more to go until the last one falls.

Imperial_Archmage · July 7

shadoza 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.

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

If you have to cut something, please don't cut the Solo content.

What’s left to cut? They’re already down to cutting staff and office furniture. Do you really think any aspect of the game is safe and not on the chopping board?

Mantorok-Minion · July 7

I wish there was something we could do. Let us know if there is.

Mizael · July 7

I can't believe Carrie and Kira got fired aswell, xbox management doesn't know about this game
<snipped for cursing/profanity>

Esha76 · July 7

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

Totally unacceptable what's happening to you guys. Forget the ToS, there are laws that prevent me from expressing how I really feel about how you at ZOS have been treated... I better just leave it at that.

As long as you guys have lights on, I'm supporting your game. You've given me 13 years of solid entertainment. I've been here since early beta and have loved your creation dearly. I've had breaks here and there, but I have logged in nearly everyday for the last 13 years, including beta. You say your game is "nothing without us...." Which from a perspective is true.... But you guys are the ones who dreamed it, created it, grew it, nurtured it, and kept it going. I don't think I'll ever be able to express enough how much I appreciate everything you all have done for Tamriel, and our entertainment. Thank you and everyone there at ZOS.

You, at ZOS, still have my loyalty.

Lydawobbles · July 7

I have no words other than i'm so sorry.
I hope you guys get picked up by another team soon. They'd be lucky to have any of you.
Thank you for all the years. ❤️

minnowfaun · July 7

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

We will miss you. We need you. I'm so sorry for those who are affected. May the Ancestors Bless you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRRT1lq4Fm4

Kelinmiriel · July 7

I've been playing for nine years now with no breaks, and I'm going to stick with the game. For anyone who thinks "quitting" or stopping your subscription is the way to respond to this - it's just more likely to get ESO shut down.

To my fellow players - If you want to boycott something - please hit the rest of Microsoft, but not ESO.

To the ZOS and Bethesda people who've worked so hard for us for so long:

My heart goes out to those who've been turned away. I can't imagine streams without Gina! She's been a part of ESO since before there was an ESO. (And I admit that the end-of-year cooking streams have been a particular joy that I look forward to every year.)

I'm sure there are many who've made the game so much better, that we don't recognize the names of, but if we knew what they'd done, we'd be mentioning them as well. So here's to the unsung heroes. I wish you all the best. Cannot begin to express my anger and sadness at how unfair this all is.

I really feel that the game has been going in a much better direction this year. I've seen a lot of people coming back who hadn't been playing in years, and bringing new people in with them. The current team had been looking at everything in a new way, coming up with new ideas.

My heart also goes out to those who remain. I know it's always devastating to lose so many friends and colleagues so suddenly. Your grief must be immense, and on top of that, the workload is likely to be doubled among those who remain.

You are appreciated. All of you. Those who are gone, and those who remain.

dcrush · July 7

Kelinmiriel wrote: »

I've been playing for nine years now with no breaks, and I'm going to stick with the game. For anyone who thinks "quitting" or stopping your subscription is the way to respond to this - it's just more likely to get ESO shut down.

To my fellow players - If you want to boycott something - please hit the rest of Microsoft, but not ESO.

My perspective is that keeping my subscription shows MS that I’m fine with the direction they’re taking. And I’m not. The most effective thing I can do is vote with my wallet. And if that ultimately means that ESO gets shut down, so be it. I love this game but in the long term, financially supporting companies who aggressively pursue shrinkflation and replacing people with AI or putting more workload on the shoulders of teams that get smaller and smaller will only make things worse. If we want a better future for games and game studios we need to think of the bigger picture and not just focus on our own interests.

DarwinStormChaser · July 7

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.

Talk about disrespectful and Toxic. How about some respect for those who just got kicked out for no good reason, Your downtime is irrelevant in comparison.