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ZeniMax Online: ESO team back to 2015–2018 size after Xbox layoffs

Senior developers at ZeniMax Online Studios say the Elder Scrolls Online team has returned to its circa 2015–2018 headcount, before staffing for the canceled Blackbird MMO. The comment, relayed from an ESO Tavern event, echoes a recent id Software claim that its team is now about the size it was during Doom (2016). WARN Act filings list 213 layoffs at ZeniMax Online and 136 at id Software; ZeniMax also cut 62 staff in 2025 after Blackbird's cancellation. ZeniMax devs stressed this reduction doesn’t necessarily mean new ESO content will stop.

• ZeniMax Online says headcount now matches 2015–2018 levels
• Statement relayed from ESO Tavern event via UESP moderator
• WARN filings: 213 ZeniMax Online layoffs, 136 at id Software; +62 in 2025
• Developers say reduced size doesn’t automatically end new ESO content