Microsoft layoffs force removal of The Elder Scrolls Online web Crown Store

Microsoft’s recent layoff wave cut 379 ZeniMax employees, the second major reduction in two years. The cutbacks have reduced staffing at ZeniMax Online Studios, the developer of The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO).

To ease the workload, the studio announced that the Web Crown Store will be removed from the official elderscrollsonline.com site on 22 July. Players can still buy crowns via the website but must log into the game to browse and purchase items. The monthly Crown Store Showcase blog will continue in a simpler, list‑style format. Community manager Kevin Gbolie explained that the team no longer has capacity to produce high‑resolution item screenshots that community sites such as the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages rely on.