Xbox CEO Asha Sharma visited Bethesda Game Studios headquarters on August 12, where she was shown the highly anticipated The Elder Scrolls VI. However, the Microsoft executive's visit was overshadowed by a protest by employees and CWA union representatives.
Sharma came to Bethesda to participate in a "live playthrough" of the new installment of The Elder Scrolls. In addition, during the visit, she hinted at the name of The Elder Scrolls VI, but details have not yet been disclosed.
Concurrently with the Xbox head's visit, representatives of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union organized a protest outside the Bethesda office. The main symbol of the event was a huge inflatable rat — a traditional attribute of union protests. According to participants' estimates, the structure reached approximately 9–15 meters in height and was clearly visible from the Bethesda offices and a large surrounding area.
In addition to the giant rat, numerous small red flags appeared near the Bethesda building. Each of them symbolized an employee affected by the mass Xbox layoffs in July 2026.
The July wave of layoffs resulted in thousands of Microsoft and Xbox employees losing their jobs, including those in gaming divisions. Union activists thus decided to remind management of the consequences of the cuts directly during the visit of one of the company's executives.