Media: Co-authors of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered are laying off 300 people
The game outsourcing company Virtuos, which contributed to Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater, the remaster of Oblivion, and numerous other projects, is undergoing layoffs. As journalist Gauthier Andres of Origami discovered, the company decided to lay off 7% of its workforce.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
According to his sources, the division of Virtuos in China will be the hardest hit, with 200 people leaving. About another hundred employees will be let go from other teams.
It is reported that the layoffs were driven by Virtuos’s desire to become more competitive and shift its focus towards working on large projects where it plays a significant role.
In particular, this is why it recently invested a lot of effort into developing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Andres’s sources claim that Virtuos prioritized the quality of the remaster over budget and agreed not to receive royalties, all for the sake of adding a showcase game to its portfolio, whose profitability is questionable.
Additionally, in February, after completing work on the Oblivion remaster, the company froze salary increases and reduced bonuses, assuring that there would be no layoffs. Currently, employees at Virtuos Lyon are worried about the future of their studio. They have announced a strike in hopes of defending their rights.