Elder Scrolls Online 'here to stay,' ZOS committed to MMORPG amid layoffs, delays new Thieves Guild features

Q: Which Thieves Guild features have been delayed into 2027 and what are their new timelines?

ZOS moved the following Thieves Guild features into 2027: the new trial Crimson Veldt (no specific month given), Update 52 (moved to January 2027, expected to include the Jerall Pass PvP zone and Skyrim’s Dynamic Encounters: Rimegales), and the next Class and Combat refresh (targeted for 2027, with some interim options under discussion).

Q: What is Crimson Veldt and why did ZOS move its release to 2027?

Crimson Veldt is a new trial for The Elder Scrolls Online that ZeniMax Online Studios describes as pushing boundaries, including introducing mounted combat. ZOS moved its release into 2027 because the studio needs more time to ensure the trial and its new features meet their quality expectations.

Q: When is Update 52 expected now, and which zones or features will it include?

Update 52 has been moved to January of 2027. It is expected to include the launch of the Jerall Pass PvP zone and Skyrim's Dynamic Encounters: Rimegales.

Q: What changes to the Class and Combat refresh did ZOS announce and when will the full refresh occur?

ZOS said they are targeting 2027 for the next Class and Combat refresh. They also stated they are discussing some interim options to improve the experience for classes still awaiting their full refresh in the meantime.

ZeniMax Online Studios affirms their commitment to The Elder Scrolls Online and says that the MMORPG isn't going anywhere despite the recent layoffs.

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Derek Strickland

Senior Gaming Editor

Published Jul 30, 2026 3:33 PM CDT

1-minute read time

TL;DR: ZeniMax Online reassures that The Elder Scrolls Online will continue despite Xbox layoffs, with new ZOS head Nick Giacomini and Josh Henderson leading closer collaboration with Bethesda. Some Thieves Guild features have been postponed to 2027, including the Crimson Veldt trial, Update 52, and the next Class and Combat refresh.

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Xbox's layoffs have impacted the team behind Bethesda's popular The Elder Scrolls Online, but the game will continue onward for the foreseeable future. Nonetheless, the team has delayed a few features originally planned with The Thieves Guild release into 2027.

Elder Scrolls Online 'here to stay,' ZOS committed to MMORPG amid layoffs, delays new Thieves Guild features 4

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Microsoft recently laid off 1,600 workers across all divisions of Xbox, including ZeniMax/Bethesda. The team behind The Elder Scrolls Online was hit hard, with a substantial portion of staff let go, including senior management and studio leaders. There were rumblings that the team had been reduced so much that those that remained were reportedly unsure how they'd deliver new content.

Now that the dust has settled a little bit, ZeniMax has issued a statement on what's next for ESO after the disruptive layoffs. "ESO is here to stay, and our team is dedicated to the future of this game. Our focus hasn't changed. It is continuing to grow The Elder Scrolls Online and build upon the world millions of players call home," new ZOS studio head Nick Giacomini said. He also affirms that ZOS will focus on "quality experiences over calendar dates."

Giacomini will lead the studio alongside long-time ZOS veteran Josh Henderson, and he also confirms the new tighter business relationship with Bethesda. Layoffs affected both ZeniMax Online Studios and Bethesda Game Studios, and now the two will work closer together on the future of The Elder Scrolls.

"We're also entering a new chapter of collaboration across Bethesda. By working more closely with Bethesda Game Studios across The Elder Scrolls, we have new opportunities to share ideas, align our efforts, and create even better experiences for players, all while continuing to build the future of ESO."

This new structure means that some content will be delayed. ZOS has moved a few things originally planned with The Thieves Guild season 1 into next year:

Frequently Asked Questions

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Question #1

Which Thieves Guild features have been delayed into 2027 and what are their new timelines?

Question #2

What is Crimson Veldt and why did ZOS move its release to 2027?

Question #3

When is Update 52 expected now, and which zones or features will it include?

Question #4

What changes to the Class and Combat refresh did ZOS announce and when will the full refresh occur?

Have a question not listed here? Ask below and TweakBot will answer it.

Because of this, we have had to make the decision to move the following features into 2027:
The new trial, Crimson Veldt. We're pushing boundaries with this trial, including mounted combat that we think you'll love, and we simply need more time to ensure the experience exceeds your expectations.
Update 52 will move to January of 2027. We expect this to include the launch of the Jerall Pass PvP zone and Skyrim's Dynamic Encounters: Rimegales.
For the Class and Combat refresh, we are targeting 2027 for the next refresh. However, we are discussing some interim options for the classes still awaiting their full refresh to improve your player experience in the meantime.