Elder Scrolls VI Could Face Further Delays After Bethesda Layoffs, Sources Tell IGN

A Fresh Blow to an Already Long Wait

The Elder Scrolls VI has been one of gaming's most anticipated sequels since its brief teaser reveal all the way back in 2018, and Bethesda has spent years cautioning fans not to expect frequent updates. Now, according to a new IGN report citing multiple current and former Bethesda employees speaking anonymously, that already lengthy wait may be extended further following a fresh round of layoffs at the studio.

Sources told IGN that more than 50 jobs were cut at Bethesda Game Studios, and that the departures weren't confined to one department. Staff described losses across programming, art, and design, with one particularly striking detail: an employee who had been with the studio since work began on The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind was among those let go. One source didn't mince words, warning the departures could have a "substantial and cascading effect" on both the game itself and morale across the studio.

Fears of Crunch and Contractor Replacements

Beyond the immediate loss of experienced staff, employees told IGN they're worried about how Bethesda plans to fill the gap. Several raised concerns that departing veterans could be replaced by outside contractors unfamiliar with the studio's proprietary tools, a mismatch that could slow progress rather than speed it up. That, in turn, feeds directly into fears about crunch, with remaining staff potentially expected to make up lost time as deadlines stay fixed even as headcount shrinks.

Bethesda has publicly stated its intent to prioritize its "biggest franchises," including The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, DOOM, Quake, and Wolfenstein, going forward. But the timing hasn't reassured staff on the ground, several of whom say the studio was already operating with a lean team before the cuts.

Part of a Much Larger Xbox Shake-Up

These cuts aren't isolated to Bethesda. They're part of a broader wave of layoffs across Xbox's studios, reportedly totaling around 3,200 positions. DOOM developer id Software has reportedly been reduced to a support-studio scale, The Elder Scrolls Online studio ZeniMax Online lost over 200 roles, and Avowed developer Obsidian has lost roughly a quarter of its staff. The scale of the cuts across so many high-profile RPG and shooter studios in a single week has left many at Bethesda uncertain about long-term job security, even among those told they'd be spared from further planned layoffs later this year.

The Elder Scrolls VI remains without a confirmed release window, though recent reporting had already pegged it as at least two to three years from launch before this latest round of cuts.

Our Take

Losing institutional knowledge on a project as ambitious and long-gestating as Elder Scrolls VI is rarely a small thing, and a Morrowind-era veteran being among the cuts says a lot about how deep this round went. None of this guarantees a delay, but it's hard to see how losing key contributors across multiple disciplines doesn't add friction to an already multi-year runway. We'll keep tracking this story as more details on the timeline emerge.