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Good news for a change: The UESPians that spoke with ZOS about the future of their studio and Elder Scrolls Online had good things to report. According to both Jason Barnes (Associate Design Director) and Jessica Folsom (Associate Director of Community Management), ZOS is now at the same size as it was when they made both Wrothgar and Summerset.
So while the layoffs are extremely upsetting for everyone involved (including players), this is not necessarily the end of new content or the game going into maintenance mode.
I spent the weekend representing the UESP at the last ever ESO Tavern, and have somehow personally made the news.
It’s so embarrassing but also funny. I am apparently a “prominent Elder Scrolls Online player”. Well, I have been playing continuously since the first open beta in January 2014, and I’ve met the Devs a whole bunch of times, but still… I’m just me.
And then it’s amusing the way that the gaming press writes stories by quoting each other. PC Gamer has quoted Massively Overpowered quoting me quoting Jessica and Jason…
The three UESP reps at the Tavern also recorded a number of videos with Community Manager Kevin Gbolie on behalf of the UESP community.
One was for Gina Bruno, Kira Schlitt, and Carrie Day to let them know how much everyone appreciated their work, how shocked we are that they’ve been let go, and how much we’ll miss them.
Another was for Bill Slavicsek, Ed Stark, and the Writing Team members who have been laid off, letting them know how much the UESP has always enjoyed their writing, and specifically calling out the writers of Tanlorin and Zerith-var.
The third was for the team remaining in employment to give them hope, let them know that the UESP community are on their side, and that we know they can continue to make the game that we love even if the timetable has to be revised. Of course THAT ONE was the video I ended up crying in. The other two, I managed to finish before I cried.
I’ve also been chatting to Mike Finnigan via Discord, trying to lift his spirits because he is - understandably - absolutely bummed out. This wasn’t just a job to any of the senior ZOS people who were laid off - it was a game they loved and a workplace they loved with coworkers who had become friends. Many of them have regular gaming nights with each other, playing D'n’D at each others’ houses.
We’re going to keep in touch with as many of the former ZOS employees as we can. Their contributions to the ESO game and the Elder Scrolls Lore have been so valuable to us, and we wish that they find new jobs quickly with a company owner that cares about them.
Good news for a change: The UESPians that spoke with ZOS about the future of their studio and Elder Scrolls Online had good things to report. According to both Jason Barnes (Associate Design Director) and Jessica Folsom (Associate Director of Community Management), ZOS is now at the same size as it was when they made both Wrothgar and Summerset.
So while the layoffs are extremely upsetting for everyone involved (including players), this is not necessarily the end of new content or the game going into maintenance mode.
Pictured: The cake from this year’s ESO Tavern. Although this could potentially be the final ESO Tavern, we did receive some good news about the future of ESO and ZOS while there!
Did You Know: You can support the UESP on Patreon? Your support helps us maintain our site and explore options we wouldn’t otherwise have. We also give some perks for those who do, like ad-free access to our app.
We even send out physical rewards every year, like this new UESP pin!
“You come to chat with Khina, walker? She would welcome you into her home, but she does not believe you would fit. You may take a seat on her porch if you like.”
–Khina greeting you, but pointing out your size difference will make a more proper visit to her home impossible.
Daily reminder that “white and black souls” don’t actually exist, they’re all just souls. Vanus Galerion made everyone learn only versions of soul trap spells with his magical DRM that are designed to not successfully soul trap beings he considered to deserve protection.
In fairness, this was a compromise to make the practice less terrible altogether. If he had his way soul trapping would not be allowed at all, but the practice was too incorrigible that he had to instead just mitigate the damage with a generations-long scheme.
