'We didn't have layoffs before, and now all of a sudden we have yearly layoffs': Bethesda artist says 'something has changed' under Microsoft

Bethesda artist Alex Nguyen, speaking at the Save Our Devs rally organized by the CWA and OneBGS union, expressed concerns about changes at Bethesda Game Studios since its acquisition by Microsoft. Nguyen highlighted a shift from no prior layoffs to annual job cuts, which he believes erodes institutional knowledge and morale. He also noted that Microsoft's corporate tactics are diminishing the long-term commitment and tenure that once characterized staff at Bethesda and Zenimax studios. This sentiment is contrasted with past statements from Xbox leadership, including former head Phil Spencer and current head Asha Sharma, who have spoken about protecting creative teams while simultaneously overseeing significant job cuts across Microsoft's gaming divisions, raising worker concerns about increasing performance expectations amidst job insecurity.