Giant inflatable rat interrupts Xbox chief’s TES6 preview as Bethesda layoffs spark protests

An early internal preview of The Elder Scrolls VI by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma was interrupted by a giant inflatable rat placed by the CWA union outside Bethesda’s Rockville offices to protest recent layoffs. The protest follows WARN-notice layoffs (166 at Bethesda Rockville; part of a broader 3,200-employee cut plan with 1,600 remaining in 2026) and ongoing “Save our Devs” actions, highlighting tensions as Xbox faces financial strain and workforce reductions. Sharma shared praise for TES6 on X, while Bethesda’s official account acknowledged the visit, and observers frame the event as a distraction from layoffs amid Xbox’s wider challenges and a related BDS boycott list over Microsoft’s Gaza involvement.