The shift in focus for Elder Scrolls Online towards more compact Seasons "is not at all a reaction to" the recent job cuts at Microsoft

The developer behind Elder Scrolls Online, Zenimax Online Studios, has countered claims that its move toward smaller "season" expansions is linked to Microsoft's recent layoffs and the resulting reduction in team size.

Recently, ZeniMax announced upcoming changes in Tamriel through Seasons, a fresh approach to exploring and gaining rewards in The Elder Scrolls Online. ZeniMax's executive producer, Susan Kath, assured RockPaperShotgun that the shift wasn't due to being unable to handle larger releases, stating, "Seasons is not in any way a response to that."

Kath elaborated that the team began working on Seasons around 12 to 14 months ago, indicating that the organizational changes were implemented with deliberate intent toward this new direction.

Kath also mentioned that previously, team members were juggling multiple projects, including the now-cancelled Project Blackbird, but now they can focus solely on Elder Scrolls Online, effectively increasing the available workforce for the game.

Nick Giacomini from ZeniMax acknowledged the impact of the layoffs, noting the team is still resilient and looking forward to future developments.

In the aftermath of significant layoffs at ZeniMax, which resulted from Microsoft’s broader workforce reductions affecting over 9,000 employees, studio president Matt Firor resigned. He later confirmed his departure was due to the cancellation of Project Blackbird by Microsoft, a project he had been anticipating throughout his career.