Mass layoffs at ZeniMax Online Studios, the developer of the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online, have affected not only rank-and-file employees but also key studio executives. According to Game File, several veterans are leaving the company, many of whom have worked there for over ten years.
According to the WARN (Work Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notice, ZeniMax Online Studios head Joe Burba, who worked at the company for 14 years, executive producer Susan Cat, game director Rich Lambert, and production director Ala Dias will leave the studio.
In a joint address to employees, the executives announced that in the coming months, the studio will be managed by a new team formed from experienced internal specialists who will be promoted. Until the process is complete, they will remain in their positions to ensure a smooth transfer of authority.
Previously published WARN notices showed that 213 ZeniMax Online Studios employees would lose their jobs as part of a massive wave of layoffs across Xbox divisions. According to the 2025 report, the studio's staff exceeded 300 people, so after the layoffs, the company is expected to have only 100 to 150 employees remaining.
The first signs of serious consequences from the layoffs appeared after community manager Jessica Folsom's statement. She announced that the studio would have to revise the development roadmap for The Elder Scrolls Online, especially given the game's transition to a seasonal content release model.
According to her, plans after the first season will be changed, and developers need additional time to assess the remaining work and prepare an updated release schedule for updates.
Former Senior Encounter Designer Morgan Goin also noted that the studio would no longer be able to maintain its previous pace of creating and releasing new content. She admitted that the news of the layoffs came as a surprise even to employees.