Industry Reflections on Workforce Changes at ZeniMax Online Studios
Recent insights from senior developers at ZeniMax Online Studios reveal a significant shift in the company’s workforce, returning to levels reminiscent of 2015-2018. This transition follows a period of expansion aimed at developing the now-canceled MMO, Blackbird. The headcount adjustments echo sentiments expressed by id Software in a statement shared on X, “The Everything App.”
During the Elder Scrolls Online Tavern event held in Hesse, Germany, moderator Baratron conveyed these developments, where numerous developers engaged with fans. In a broader context, ZeniMax has seen substantial layoffs, including 213 and 136 employees from its studios, along with an additional 62 positions cut in 2025 following the cancellation of Blackbird.
Brandon Adler, director of Outer Worlds 2, has voiced strong opinions regarding perceptions of the studio’s current talent pool. He criticized outsiders who suggest that the studio lacks the original developers responsible for classics like KotOR 2 and New Vegas. This sentiment raises questions about the implications of two studios under the same parent company adopting similar public relations narratives.
However, the notion of reverting to previous headcounts can be unsettling. It suggests a reversal of nearly a decade’s worth of growth and innovation within these studios. While the numbers may align, the atmosphere of a flourishing studio is starkly different from one that has undergone significant downsizing. The recent layoffs at id and ZeniMax were not arbitrary; they were strategic decisions made in response to the evolving landscape of game development over the past decade.
Other industry giants, such as Bungie and BioWare, have also experienced similar workforce adjustments, often returning to headcounts reminiscent of their peak periods. Yet, these changes have not necessarily translated into improved productivity or creative output. The return to former staffing levels has not resurrected titles like Halo: Reach or Mass Effect 2.
If this narrative serves as a public relations strategy that Microsoft may leverage in the near future, it raises concerns. Such a stance implies that those who were let go were expendable, perpetuating the harmful “lazy devs” stereotype. This line of reasoning risks normalizing a culture of distress and mismanagement, framing it as a necessary correction by those in leadership. The industry deserves better than this approach.
