Earlier this month, the gaming scene was rocked by Microsoft's massive layoff of over 9,000 employees, which included a significant number from the Microsoft Gaming (read: Xbox) division.
One team that was gutted included ZeniMax, which was in development of a new game that, even if it impressed Xbox boss Phil Spencer, wasn't enough to save the project and the studio members who were laid off.
Today, members of ZeniMax have spoken out about the layoffs, and based on what was shared, Microsoft didn't just fire people; they also instilled anxiety and trauma.
ZeniMax Devs Lambast Microsoft's Lack Of Communications
Multiple developers at the studio spoke to Game Developer about what transpired, and while most spoke anonymously, a few current studio members weren't afraid to speak their minds.
One ZeniMax developer who wished to remain anonymous discussed how they were blindsided by Microsoft's move and the lack of communication. This developer was essentially left in limbo for hours, as they were locked out of the ZeniMax internal Slack channel, with even their email being frozen.
This tactic was echoed by another developer who mentioned how this incited panic among those who didn't know their fate. Would they even have jobs...
