Even The Elder Scrolls 6 is affected by Xbox layoffs, say Bethesda employees, as "key" people are let go and morale bottoms out

Multiple Bethesda employees have told IGN that this week's massive wave of Xbox layoffs will have a "substantial and cascading effect" on the long-in-development Elder Scrolls 6. Anonymous employees say more than 50 staff, including "key, high-performing people in the trenches," have been impacted, causing morale to plummet and potentially delaying the game. One employee noted that a person who had been at the company since Morrowind was cut, possibly referring to 27-year Bethesda veteran and lead character artist Christiane Meister, who announced she was let go via LinkedIn. The layoffs come as Zenimax and Bethesda reportedly pivot to focus on their biggest franchises, but with reduced headcount and low morale, the timeline for new titles remains uncertain.