The Elder Scrolls Online is already feeling the impact of Xbox’s layoffs, ironically hurting the cash shop
Microsoft’s mass layoffs at ZeniMax have already begun impacting The Elder Scrolls Online, with the developer losing 379 staff in what marks the second significant reduction in two years. The cuts have reduced the studio to approximately the size it was a decade ago, leaving the MMO’s remaining team with significantly reduced bandwidth.
Just weeks after the layoffs were announced, the effects are already visible to players. The Crown Store, ESO’s premium currency cash shop, is undergoing changes as the developers attempt to manage their workload. Most notably, the Web Crown Store is being removed, requiring players to launch the game client to browse and purchase items from the shop. Community manager Kevin Gbolie confirmed the changes were implemented to “help manage workload,” with the team stating “the goal is to provide what we can” in the current circumstances.
The timing is particularly unfortunate for ESO, which had just launched a new seasonal structure before the layoffs took effect. With reduced team capacity, the developers will need to continue developing new content and maintaining the live service with far fewer resources than before. The cuts represent a significant challenge for a game that relies on regular content updates and monetisation through cosmetics and convenience items to maintain player engagement.