This week, Bloomberg already estimated that The Elder Scrolls VI wouldn’t be released for at least two to three years. While it’s obviously too early to speculate, things seem to be getting out of hand internally once again.

IGN reached out to anonymous sources to inquire about the game’s development progress. Unfortunately, devs are reportedly concerned that the game might be delayed due to the layoffs carried out by Xbox on Monday. Employees are also reportedly bracing for intense crunch for months.

Additionally, more than 50 employees at Bethesda Game Studios (BGS) have reportedly been laid off. Key developers are therefore no longer working at the studio, which could lead to the loss of expertise necessary to complete The Elder Scrolls VI. Their departure will have "a considerable and ripple effect on the game and the studio’s morale," according to a staff member. This includes programmers, graphic artists, and designers. One of the laid-off employees had been with the company since Morrowind.

Finally, the Bethesda Game Studios Union shared photos of impromptu tributes for the employees who had just been laid off. Portraits of the laid-off employees were placed in the offices of the four BGS studios, and at least one of these tributes was reportedly taken down on orders from the company’s human resources department.