Microsoft's Acquisition Takes Toll on Bethesda Workforce

Bethesda Game Studios' employees are speaking out about the impact of Microsoft's acquisition on their workplace. Artist Alex Nguyen told Kotaku that since being acquired by Microsoft, Bethesda has experienced yearly layoffs for the first time.

'We didn’t have layoffs before, and now all of a sudden we have yearly layoffs,' Nguyen said. 'It feels like something has changed.'

The layoffs are eroding institutional knowledge, with teams losing valuable members who had a deep understanding of the company's projects. According to Nguyen, fixer-uppers like Fallout 76 and Elder Scrolls Online require sufficient labor and time to become successful fan favorites.

The shared sense of long-term commitment among staff at Zenimax and Bethesda has been smothered by Microsoft's corporate tactics. Nguyen noted that employees used to have a long tenure at the company, with many planning to retire or stay in the industry for a long time due to the stability provided by Bethesda.