Following a recent report, Virtuos has confirmed mass lay-offs across its studios worldwide, affecting seven percent of its total workforce. Europe, where The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered team is situated, will see 70 employees affected.
About 200 roles will be impacted in Asia. This “rebalancing of roles” affects teams “facing lower occupancy and slower demand due to structural shifts in the industry.”
“We are grateful for the contributions of those impacted. We are providing separation packages, career transition assistance, and opportunities for redeployment across our global network where possible. The company’s immediate focus is on managing this transition with care, transparency, and respect.”
How will these affect ongoing projects like The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered (which recently received Update 1.2), Cyberpunk 2077, and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater? Virtuos reaffirmed its full commitment to “all our partnerships,” and it will continue “to invest in global delivery, technical excellence, and creative collaboration, ensuring that Virtuos remains the partner of choice for the world’s leading game creators.”
Despite being “grateful” to the affected employees, the company allegedly pushed the team to deliver on Oblivion Remastered (for which it reportedly received no royalties or bonuses). Bonuses were also reportedly reduced, and a raise freeze was in place last February. If that wasn’t enough, it’s also allegedly dabbled in generative AI, with a source claiming that they’ve gone from “a few group-level presentations” to “basic but mandatory training sessions” in one year.
Virtuos Lyon is reportedly striking against the lay-offs, seemingly amid a leadership merger. Whether the company will see further lay-offs in the coming months or not, stay tuned for updates.
