ZeniMax's ESO studio is still big enough to deliver new content

ZeniMax Online Studios has been affected by Xbox's layoff spree, but as it stands, the studio still has enough manpower to produce meaningful content for the popular The Elder Scrolls Online MMO.

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With over 26 million lifetime players, ESO remains an important part of Xbox's live game strategy. The MMORPG has kept the Elder Scrolls franchise alive and kicking as Bethesda continues its glacial pace on TES6, raking in millions of dollars in spending. Xbox's recent layoffs definitely affected ZeniMax Online Studios (and Bethesda in general), but new info helps clarify and contextualize what's actually going on.

The admins of the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP.net) attended the yearly Elder Scrolls Tavern event in Europe, where the ZeniMax team shared new information on the studio's current status. The details show that ZeniMax Online Studios is now the same size as it was when it put out Wrothgar in the Orsinium update as well as the major standalone Summerset expansion. This indicates that ZOS is still capable of putting out new expansions, DLCs, and updates for the game, warding off worries about team size.

"Good news for a change: The UESPians that spoke with ZOS about the future of their studio and Elder Scrolls Online had good things to report. According to both Jason Barnes (Associate Design Director) and Jessica Folsom (Associate Director of Community Management), ZOS is now at the same size as it was when they made both Wrothgar and Summerset.

"So while the layoffs are extremely upsetting for everyone involved (including players), this is not necessarily the end of new content or the game going into maintenance mode."

Unfortunately, the layoffs at Xbox aren't over, and developers now have to do their jobs with a kind of phantom Sword of Damocles hanging above their heads.

The team at ZOS are currently revising their roadmap schedule for future ESO content.

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 revised ZOS roadmap affect the timing of the next DLC or expansion release?

Revising the roadmap means the timing of the next DLC or expansion could shift from previously announced dates, potentially causing delays or changes in cadence. However, ZOS says the plan is still to deliver great content and they hope to have an update soon, and the studio is reportedly the same size it was when it delivered prior expansions.

Answered

Question #2

Could ongoing Xbox layoffs lead to reduced frequency of ESO quality-of-life updates or smaller DLCs?

Unlikely in the short term: ZeniMax Online Studios is reported to be the same size it was when it produced both Wrothgar and the Summerset expansion, and the studio still says it can deliver expansions, DLCs, and updates. However, Xbox layoffs are not finished and ZOS is revising its roadmap, so future scheduling or scope changes remain possible.

Answered

Question #3

How will ZOS communicate specific changes to the ESO development schedule to players?

Click to reveal answer

Question #4

Will the team size comparable to the Summerset era support simultaneous live-service and expansion development?

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"The plan is still to deliver great content, and we will hopefully have an update soon," ESO community manager Kevin Gbolie said on the forums.