So, The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) is shaking things up! Forget those huge, yearly expansions we're used to. ZeniMax Online is switching to smaller, seasonal updates. Now, the big question: is this a cool evolution or a consequence of those nasty Microsoft layoffs last year? I mean, timing is everything, right?

Last year was a bit of a rollercoaster for Microsoft. Even though they were boasting about "record performance" and crazy revenue numbers, they dropped a bomb with mass layoffs. Over 9,000 employees got the boot, hitting various Xbox studios hard. We're talking Rare, Turn 10, and others. And, yeah, some projects got canned in the process.

The Official Word

ZeniMax's sci-fi MMO, Project Blackbird, became a casualty, and around 200 people lost their jobs. However, ESO's executive producer, Susan Kath, is adamant that the shift to seasonal updates isn't related. She told RockPaperShotgun that they started planning this change way before the layoffs even happened. Like, 12-14 months before! Okay, that's a while.

Kath admits 2025 was rough, but she also points out that Blackbird's cancellation might actually be good for ESO. Apparently, many developers were splitting their time between projects. Now, they're all focused on Elder Scrolls Online. So, in a way, ESO's development team actually got a boost!

The idea of smaller updates actually surfaced shortly after the layoffs. Rich Lambert, ESO's game director, mentioned they were aiming for "smaller, more bite-sized things" every six to nine months, instead of waiting a year or more for a big expansion. These quarterly seasons will be free, and older expansions will be included in the base game. Plus, there's a seasonal battle pass coming, with both free and paid options.

During a press briefing, game director Nick Giaomini said this change will give them "flexibility to make our game more exciting" and address player feedback. They can focus on improvements and features players have been asking for, instead of just chasing the next big thing. It's like they're finally listening to us!

Giacomini acknowledged the layoffs did have an impact. "To say that [the layoffs] didn't impact us wouldn't be right," he said. "We're putting on a strong face. We're human. It absolutely impacted us".

Honestly, it's hard to say for sure if the layoffs played a role. Maybe it was a happy accident, but the important thing is the future of ESO now depends on making the seasonal model good! I hope these changes will make the game better in the long run!