Xbox’s massive wave of layoffs continues to spread, this time also hitting teams working on The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Bethesda’s union is extremely dissatisfied with the situation, directly criticizing Microsoft’s layoff direction as fundamentally “cutting the wrong people!” The union points out that those let go were mostly programmers, artists, designers, and QA testers—the core developers actually responsible for making games. For them, these people aren’t optional peripheral roles, but the foundation that keeps the entire development process running!
Management Nearly Unscathed?
The union also expressed frustration that the company loves to talk about streamlining and improving efficiency whenever pressure hits, but ultimately it’s always the front-line developers who sacrifice. In comparison, the management who actually make decisions have barely been affected, which is quite ironic. They question whether such layoffs are really helping the company stop the bleeding, or just transferring operational pressure onto those closest to—and most knowledgeable about—the games. If core development staff continue to be cut in large numbers, project quality and progress will likely suffer.
Union Slams Repeat of Old Problems
Bethesda’s union further criticizes that the gaming industry has repeatedly seen the same script play out: companies pursue higher profits or adjust financial structures, but ultimately developers always pay the price first. This isn’t the first time it’s happened, leaving many industry workers disappointed with the current state. The union believes this approach only makes teams more unstable, even destroying long-term collaborative chemistry and creative energy. It may seem to save costs in the short term, but long-term it could cause the company to lose its most important talent and game quality—ultimately hurting players and the games themselves.
Players Fear Teams Being Broken Up
As Xbox’s restructuring continues, Bethesda, id Software, and other teams have all been affected to varying degrees. For players, the biggest concern now isn’t just whether certain games will be delayed, but whether these longtime development teams can maintain their past creative strength. After all, a game’s success has never relied just on the brand name, but on the experience and chemistry a whole team builds over time. With core personnel leaving one after another, outsiders are starting to worry whether these classic IPs can still maintain their original quality.