The Elder Scrolls Online Team Loses Key Leaders

Microsoft continues large-scale layoffs at Xbox. According to new data, it's no longer just about staff reductions.

According to journalist Stephen Totilo of Game File, the changes affected the leadership of ZeniMax Online Studios, the team behind the development of The Elder Scrolls Online.

ZeniMax Online head Jo Burba, The Elder Scrolls Online executive producer Susan Kath, game director Rich Lambert, and production director Alani Dias will leave the studio. In the coming months, they will transfer their responsibilities to a new team of current employees.

According to documents, 379 positions related to ZeniMax and Bethesda were eliminated in Maryland alone. More than 200 of these belonged to ZeniMax Online Studios. The layoffs affected developers and executives, including the studio head, game director, chief operating officer, and audio director. Producers, animators, community specialists, and over 60 testers were also laid off.

Microsoft stated that The Elder Scrolls Online will continue to be developed. Josh Henderson and Nick Giamcomini will become the new leaders, and the former studio leaders expressed confidence in the project's future.

The situation shows a massive restructuring at Xbox: after the closure of Arkane Austin, changes at Tango Gameworks, layoffs at id Software and other Bethesda studios, the company is losing people who have created its key projects for years.