Xbox's Elder Scrolls 6 strategy looks shakier after Bethesda layoffs

Q: Will the recent reductions likely change Bethesda’s team structure or outsourcing plans for The Elder Scrolls VI?

Yes. The primary article says Bethesda saw significant cuts across programmers, artists, designers, and testers and that some teams were nearly halved, which raises red flags for fans of The Elder Scrolls VI and suggests Xbox’s layoffs and restructuring will put pressure on remaining staff and could affect plans. Related article News #109225 notes Todd Howard said Bethesda is working on multiple games including Elder Scrolls VI, but the primary article indicates the reductions make changes to team structure or outsourcing more likely.

Q: Could the layoffs trigger changes to The Elder Scrolls VI’s target platforms, scope, or feature set?

Yes. The primary article states that significant cuts hit programmers, artists, designers, and testers at Bethesda, and that studios have been "decimated" and some teams nearly halved, which raises red flags for Elder Scrolls VI fans and implies its target platforms, scope, or feature set could be altered as remaining staff face pressure to deliver. Related article "Report: Bethesda layoffs may be happening as Xbox Game Studios breaks up" notes layoffs at Bethesda's parent and suggests non-Fallout or Elder Scrolls projects are not safe, reinforcing the possibility of changes.

Xbox's recent layoffs gut Bethesda and id Software, despite promises to prioritize The Elder Scrolls VI and other flagship franchises.

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Jak Connor

Tech and Science Editor

Published Jul 8, 2026 12:40 PM CDT

1 minute & 30 seconds read time

TL;DR: Xbox's layoffs have severely reduced Bethesda Game Studios and id Software staff, including key programmers and artists, raising concerns about the future quality of The Elder Scrolls VI despite Xbox's stated focus on major franchises. The cuts reflect broader Microsoft cost-saving efforts affecting thousands across Xbox divisions.

Voice: Jak ConnorSpeed

0:00 / 2:19

Xbox's promise to "bet big" on The Elder Scrolls VI and other core franchises has collided with brutal reality as Bethesda Game Studios and id Software were hit hardest in the latest wave of layoffs.

Xbox's Elder Scrolls 6 strategy looks shakier after Bethesda layoffs 2

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Reports reveal that studios behind DOOM, Fallout, and The Elder Scrolls have been decimated, with some teams nearly halved; id Software, the studio behind the DOOM franchise and its iconic idTech engine, reportedly lost most of its coders.

Bethesda, despite being a darling of Xbox, also saw significant cuts, which has now raised red flags for fans of the long-awaited Elder Scrolls VI. Bethesda Game Studios Union wrote in a post on BlueSky that Bethesda's latest round of layoffs affected several departments, such as programmers, artists, designers, and game testers. Additionally, the union added that many of these former staff members had been at Bethesda Game Studios for "decades".

Read more: Report: Xbox lays off nearly half of id Software, Doom and Quake still priorities
Read more: Report: Bethesda layoffs may be happening as Xbox Game Studios breaks up
Read more: Xbox prioritizes Elder Scrolls VI, Fallout, and Halo in new strategy shift

"Yesterday's layoffs at Bethesda Game Studios were not a cut of"14 layers of management". We lost dozens of programmers, artists, designers, and testers. Many of whom worked at BGS for decades. If Bethesda fans are worried this will harm the quality of our future games, like The Elder Scrolls VI, let Microsoft know!" wrote Bethesda Game Studios Union

The layoffs are part of a larger restructuring and ongoing cost-cutting measures at Microsoft, but this time it affects thousands of employees across Xbox's division and studios. While Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has emphasized a focus on "biggest franchises," the cuts to the very teams responsible for those titles suggest things at Xbox are going to get worse before they get better.

Frequently Asked Questions

TweakBot answers common questions about this news using TweakTown's own coverage from this page and related content from our archive. Tap a question to reveal the answer, or type your own below.

Question #1

How might the layoffs at id Software affect the development timeline or engine support (idTech) for upcoming DOOM projects?

The article reports id Software "reportedly lost most of its coders," which suggests the studio may face delays or reduced capacity to develop upcoming DOOM projects and to maintain or advance the idTech engine. That loss of engineering staff raises the likelihood of slower development timelines and potential limitations in engine support or feature development until staffing stabilizes.

Answered

Question #2

Which specific development roles were cut at Bethesda Game Studios and how could those losses impact The Elder Scrolls VI production stages?

The article says Bethesda Game Studios cut dozens of programmers, artists, designers, and game testers. Losing programmers and designers could slow or derail core development and systems work, artists could delay asset creation and visual polish, and fewer testers could reduce bug-finding and quality assurance, all potentially stalling or lowering the quality of The Elder Scrolls VI.

Answered

Question #3

Will the recent reductions likely change Bethesda’s team structure or outsourcing plans for The Elder Scrolls VI?

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Question #4

Could the layoffs trigger changes to The Elder Scrolls VI’s target platforms, scope, or feature set?

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As studios shrink, the pressure mounts on the remaining staff to deliver the same ambitious games, all while facing the looming prospect of another round of layoffs.