Xbox teams are just beginning to feel the profound impact of the 1,600 layoffs this month. It has now been revealed that these cuts included management at ZeniMax Online Studios, the team that do Ancient scrolls online. Studio head Jo Burba, who took over last July after the latest round of mass layoffs at Xbox, is among those who will leave after 14 years at the company.
It is according to a report by Game file on an internal memo shared with staff on July 15. Elder Scrolls Online executive producer Susan Kath, studio game director Rich Lambert and production manager Ala Diaz are also among the cuts. They told ZeniMax Online staff that they would remain in place for the next few months as the team transitioned to a new set of leaders.
“We have immense confidence in Josh and Nick, in the future of this studio and in the continued growth of THAT” Burba told staff in part of the message, according to Game file.
A WARN Act notice filed The state of Maryland recorded 379 layoffs at the offices of Microsoft and its subsidiary ZeniMax, including Bethesda Game Studios. The notice notes cuts to senior management positions such as director of studio operations, studio art director and vice president and controller.
The cuts have caused some staff members of the affected teams to fear that the development of the game would be negatively affected. “We want to take the time to assess the work ahead of us and then create an updated schedule. » THATthe community the manager announced once the Xbox layoffs began. The studio later wrote that the development team remained as large as when it delivered its popular Wrothgar And Summer sunset extensions.
Morgan Goin, lead encounter designer, was much less optimistic. “We’re not going to be able to put out as much content at the speed we were…or anything close to that,” she said. THE BBC. The designer said she felt blindsided by the cuts, which still aren’t complete for the year. Another 1,600 people at Xbox are expected to be laid off by July 2027.
Burba took over ZeniMax Online Studios only a year ago the latest round of deep cuts at the studio. Much of this was due to Microsoft’s cancellation of a seemingly very promising sci-fi shooter MMO called Project Blackbird. “Making games is always a heartbreaking affair,” said Matt Firor, who stepped down as studio head following the cancellation. DeMax earlier this year.
“Like, no matter what, you could be in the best studio in the world and decisions happen that have an impact. people. I didn’t agree with what happened, but I understood the reasoning. It’s just financial. Firor added: “We are a number on a ledger, and if that number is big, it is ripe for analysis, shall we say, and that number has always been big. »
