Elder Scrolls 6 on track 🎮 Bethesda union slams Xbox 💢 Sony disc backlash 💿
2026-07-23 · 9 stories · 57 min read
Top Stories
Bethesda says The Elder Scrolls 6's development roadmap remains unaffected by Xbox's recent mass layoffs, which cut 1,600 jobs across Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, and Activision Blizzard, with another 1,600 cuts planned over the next year. The statement contradicts concerns from anonymous Bethesda staff who told IGN they fear potential delays, increased crunch, and reliance on contractors unfamiliar with the studio's proprietary technology. (GamesRadar)
Bethesda union slams Xbox for offering the 'bare legal minimum in terms of severance' (4 min read)
OneBGS, the union representing Bethesda Montreal employees, accused Microsoft of offering laid-off workers only the "bare legal minimum" severance after initially promising employment through September 2026 during negotiations. Canadian workers from Fallout and Elder Scrolls teams received termination emails on July 17, receiving eight weeks' pay in lieu of notice plus outstanding vacation—the legal minimum—and immediate loss of group health benefits. An anonymous source said Xbox is effectively telling workers "if we could give you less we would, but that's against the law." The union said it will fight for better terms. (Game Developer)
Former God of War Laufey writer Alanah Pearce revealed that Sony has enforced unusually strict social media guidelines for employees following its announcement to end physical PlayStation games in 2028. Pearce said PlayStation first-party studio staff told her the restrictions are "the strictest" they've ever seen issued, and that Sony anticipated the decision would provoke significant backlash. She characterized the heightened controls as evidence Sony knew the policy would become "an enormous PR issue.". (GamesRadar)
Business & Finance
Amazon consolidated its fragmented gaming divisions—Luna, Amazon Game Studios, and Prime Gaming—under one leadership. Luna is now integrated into Prime Video, allowing Prime subscribers to stream games directly. GM Jeff Gattis said the company sees growth potential in emerging markets beyond traditional PC and console audiences. (GamesIndustry.biz)
Delphi Interactive's success with 007 First Light and FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition has generated major IP interest from global brands. CEO Casper Daugaard explained the studio's strategy of targeting IP fans rather than core gamers, applying this approach to secure the James Bond license and partner with IO Interactive for development. (GamesIndustry.biz)
Krafton invested in Neon Commerce, a game commerce infrastructure firm, to build an in-house payment system and strengthen direct-to-consumer capabilities. The partnership aims to provide integrated payment processing, regional tax compliance, and publisher-operated stores, allowing Krafton to bypass third-party payment intermediaries. (GameMeca)
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Web-game platform Poki reached 100 million monthly active users, growing 10 million in one year at a rate matching Steam's expansion. The platform represents a significant but often-overlooked casual gaming segment on PC. (GameLook)
Studios & People
Gaming’s Contract Workers Are Being Devastated, Too: ‘Industry’s Cooked’ (10 min read)
Contract workers at major studios including Activision, Epic Games, Bungie, and Microsoft are being laid off alongside full-time staff as companies cut budgets. Contractors—who often lack benefits and work on time-limited agreements—face heightened job insecurity as the labor market floods with displaced workers. (Kotaku)
AI/Tech & Tools
Open World launched Hitscan, a platform helping publishers discover and manage creator partnerships. Built by the NoScope team, Hitscan provides analytics on creator impact and viewership, tracks partnership history, and gives organizations visibility into how their games are covered across streaming platforms. (GamesIndustry.biz)
gg! see you in game!
— [james](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrjennings/)