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Zenimax Online Studios

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Xbox Layoffs Rewire ESO Leadership, Casting Doubt on The Elder Scrolls Online’s Future
gaming1 hour ago

Xbox Layoffs Rewire ESO Leadership, Casting Doubt on The Elder Scrolls Online’s Future

Microsoft’s 1,600-strong Xbox layoffs reach ZeniMax Online Studios as studio head Jo Burba and several ESO leaders are cut. Burba says the studio’s future is in good hands with new leaders Josh and Nick, while a Maryland WARN notice lists hundreds of layoffs and staff express concern about development pace as more cuts across Xbox are expected through 2027; ESO’s team size remains similar to when it shipped recent DLC, but morale and output questions persist.

via Kotaku|
#elder-scrolls-online#gaming#layoffs
Xbox Layoffs Force Slower ESO Updates at ZeniMax Online
business14 hours ago

Xbox Layoffs Force Slower ESO Updates at ZeniMax Online

ZeniMax Online Studios was hit hard by Xbox layoffs, canceling Project Blackbird and prompting founder Matt Firor’s departure; the studio pivoted Elder Scrolls Online to a seasonal live-service cadence. Season One has launched, but Morgan Goin says the update pace will slow due to staffing gaps and the in-house engine, with contractors unlikely to bridge the gap. ESO remains financially strong with over $2 billion in lifetime revenue.

via Wccftech|
#business#elder-scrolls-online#project-blackbird
ESO Devs Reassure Fans: Content Will Continue After Layoffs As Team Size Returns To Previous Level
news2 days ago

ESO Devs Reassure Fans: Content Will Continue After Layoffs As Team Size Returns To Previous Level

Zenimax Online Studios says ESO will keep evolving after last week’s Xbox layoffs, noting the team is now the same size as when Wrothgar and Summerset shipped and that they’re not entering maintenance mode. The developers at an ESO Tavern event stressed a continued content plan and an updated roadmap, though the layoffs remain painful and staffing reductions may affect pace.

via Kotaku|
#elder-scrolls-online#layoffs#news
gaming3 days ago

ESO Devs Say Team Now Mirrors 2015–2018 Size, Hinting at More Content

ZeniMax Online Studios says ESO’s remaining team is now the same size as it was during the 2015–2018 peak, signaling that content updates aren’t off the table despite layoffs. At the ESO Tavern event, Jason Barnes and Jessica Folsom indicated a revised roadmap is in progress and that senior institutional knowledge should transfer to the rest of the team, keeping the door open for major updates. The era’s DLCs, like Wrothgar (2015) and Summerset (2018), are cited as proof a smaller team can still deliver substantial content.

via Massively Overpowered|
#elder-scrolls-online#gaming#layoffs
ESO Devs Rework Roadmaps After Xbox Layoffs Hit Zenimax Online
games9 days ago

ESO Devs Rework Roadmaps After Xbox Layoffs Hit Zenimax Online

Kotaku reports that Zenimax Online Studios’ The Elder Scrolls Online team was heavily affected by today’s Xbox layoffs, with more than 20 employees laid off and the possibility that as much as half the development staff were impacted. The remaining team says roadmaps will be shifting as they reassess priorities, though community manager Jessica Folsom confirms continued commitment to ESO. Season 1 is still on track, and other planned content (Doom DLC, QuakeCon) will proceed, as Bethesda focuses on its biggest franchises.

via Kotaku|
#elder-scrolls-online#games#layoffs
When the Ledger Wins: Microsoft Axes Project Blackbird
news2 months ago

When the Ledger Wins: Microsoft Axes Project Blackbird

Kotaku reports that Matt Firor detailed why Microsoft canceled Project Blackbird, a planned online loot shooter from ZeniMax Online Studios, during cost-cutting after the Activision Blizzard acquisition. He says the decision was financial and driven by the need for forecastable profits, not personal animosity, noting a large upfront engine investment would have made live-service updates easier but far from a guaranteed return. Firor resigned after the cancelation, describing it as devastating but acknowledging the business realities. He also said the project was “a hell of a lot of fun” and that the world concept would have improved the gaming landscape had it released.

via Kotaku|
#firor#gaming-industry#microsoft
Ex-Zenimax Lead Resigns After 'Blackbird' Game Cancellation
gaming6 months ago

Ex-Zenimax Lead Resigns After 'Blackbird' Game Cancellation

Former ZeniMax Online Studios founder Matt Firor confirmed that the cancellation of the highly anticipated game Project Blackbird, which he had waited his entire career to create, led to his resignation. The game, a sci-fi third-person shooter set on an exoplanet, was in development for over seven years and showed promising gameplay, but was abruptly canceled due to Microsoft layoffs related to AI investments. Firor expressed respect for the development team and now enjoys the game as a community member, while former team members are working on new projects.

via Wccftech|
#cancellation#gaming#microsoft-layoffs
ZeniMax Devs Decry Loss of Future Amid Xbox MMO Cancellation
technology1 year ago

ZeniMax Devs Decry Loss of Future Amid Xbox MMO Cancellation

Microsoft is set to lay off most of the 222 employees at ZeniMax Online Studios who worked on the canceled MMORPG Blackbird, with negotiations ongoing for severance packages. The project, in development since 2018 and highly regarded by Microsoft CEO Phil Spencer, was abruptly shelved, leading to significant job losses and community disappointment. Union efforts aim to support affected workers through severance and dignity in departure, amid broader concerns about layoffs within Microsoft and Xbox.

via Windows Central|
#blackbird-project#game-development#microsoft-layoffs
Microsoft's Layoffs Lead to Cancellations of Elder Scrolls MMO and Perfect Dark Reboot
technology1 year ago

Microsoft's Layoffs Lead to Cancellations of Elder Scrolls MMO and Perfect Dark Reboot

Microsoft's recent mass layoffs have impacted numerous gaming projects, including the unannounced sci-fi MMO 'Blackbird' from ZeniMax Online Studios, which has been canceled along with the departure of its team and studio head, amidst broader cuts affecting multiple high-profile games and studios within Microsoft's gaming division.

via IGN|
#blackbird-mmo#game-development#microsoft-layoffs
Elder Scrolls Online Developer's New MMORPG Canceled Amid Microsoft Layoffs
technology1 year ago

Elder Scrolls Online Developer's New MMORPG Canceled Amid Microsoft Layoffs

Microsoft's layoffs reportedly led to the cancellation of 'Blackbird,' a new MMORPG in development at ZeniMax Online Studios, the creators of Elder Scrolls Online. The cancellation was confirmed by senior producer Chris Linn, and the studio is undergoing leadership changes with the departure of president Matt Firor. The project, in development since 2018, was intended to be a new AAA IP, but its future is now uncertain amidst the layoffs and studio upheaval.

via Rock Paper Shotgun|
#blackbird#elder-scrolls-online#microsoft-layoffs
Microsoft Cancels Multiple Game Projects Amid Layoffs and Studio Restructuring
technology1 year ago

Microsoft Cancels Multiple Game Projects Amid Layoffs and Studio Restructuring

Microsoft's recent layoffs have led to the cancellation of an unannounced MMO from ZeniMax Online Studios, the developer of Elder Scrolls Online, with studio head Matt Firor stepping down after 18 years. The layoffs are part of broader cuts across Microsoft's gaming division following its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, affecting multiple projects and studios.

via IGN|
#elder-scrolls-online#gaming-industry#microsoft-layoffs