Last January, Microsoft announced a massive layoff of nearly 1,900 employees. And if the majority were to affect Activision Blizzard employees, it would seem that this restructuring plan has made a silent victim. The American giant in fact terminated the French subsidiary of Bethesda at the end of March, with the greatest discretion.
A decision taken at the start of the year but which leaves a bitter taste for the dozen employees concerned. But beyond the dismissal as such, it is above all the method used which raises eyebrows. According to a former employee of Bethesda France, Microsoft would have dangled a trip to its own premises for several weeks. A promise which unfortunately was not kept.
However, things were going pretty well between the two entities so far. After Microsoft acquired Bethesda in September 2020 for a modest $7.5 billion, employees were able to continue working without interference from Microsoft. An agreement undermined by the launches considered catastrophic of Redfall And Starfield and this, despite the success in France of The Elder Scrolls Online. Or even renewed interest in fallout
thanks to the series offered by Amazon.
“ We had a very bad experience with the catastrophic launches of Redfall and Starfield, and perhaps that’s what convinced Microsoft to shut down its local offices and refocus its forces.. »
Former employee of Bethesda France
The French teams from Bethesda would not even have been invited to the celebration of ten years of The Elder Scrolls Online at the beginning of April. An eviction which puts an end to an adventure which began in 2010, all without a sound.