The gaming industry has experienced some tough times recently, with many companies letting go of employees and closing studios. One of the biggest recent events was when Microsoft laid off 9000 workers from its gaming division, even though leaders at the company claimed everything was going well. The team working on Elder Scrolls Online at ZeniMax was among those affected. Along with these layoffs, Microsoft cancelled a highly anticipated MMO game that everyone seemed to love.
According to interviews with ZeniMax employees, the process of being let go felt abrupt and impersonal. Some employees found themselves suddenly locked out of work tools and had to say goodbye to colleagues through rushed messages. The atmosphere was filled with stress and confusion. Many workers, including those with years of experience, lost their jobs without much warning or time to prepare.
The layoffs left the remaining staff feeling uncertain about the future. Some current and former ZeniMax employees were upset by how Microsoft handled the situation. They felt the communication was cold and that the decisions made by upper management were out of touch with the reality experienced by the people on the ground. There is a strong sense of disappointment and frustration among the team, especially since some employees lost not just coworkers but close friends and family members in the layoffs.
This is not the first time Microsoft has been criticized for buying game studios and then letting staff go once big changes are made. Over the past few years, similar situations have happened after other major acquisitions. Microsoft shut down respected studios like Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin and cancelled multiple projects, affecting thousands of jobs.
Some workers at ZeniMax had recently organized as a union and signed a new contract, but the joy of that achievement was quickly overshadowed by the layoffs. Now, people are wondering how a much smaller and stressed team is supposed to keep producing top quality games like before. Many feel that the loss of experienced staff has damaged the company culture and will make future success much harder.
Overall, many in the industry are now questioning how large companies handle layoffs and whether there is any plan to learn from these repeated mistakes. As things stand, morale is low and many employees are worried about what the future holds for both themselves and the games they are passionate about making.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/eso-devs-at-zenimax-reel-from-microsofts-hollow-layoff-emails-with-some-wondering-how-a-carcass-of-workers-is-supposed-to-keep-shipping-award-winning-games/
