Bethesda workers report annual layoffs following Microsoft acquisition

Bethesda Softworks employees report that annual layoffs have become a recurring issue following Microsoft’s $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax Media in 2021. Workers, who previously experienced rare job cuts, state that the frequent reductions are damaging institutional knowledge and development speed.

Alex Nguyen, a veteran character artist and team lead at Bethesda, noted that losing small groups of specialized staff can force remaining teams to spend months or years rebuilding expertise. He suggested that the lack of stability could impact the long-term support required for major titles like Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls Online.

In response to these conditions, the OneBGS and CWA unions have participated in ‘Save Our Devs’ protests across the United States and Canada. Demonstrations have included public protests and symbolic actions, such as an inflatable rat appearing outside ZeniMax during a visit from Xbox leadership.