Virtuos, the studio that revitalized The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for contemporary gaming through its recent remaster, is said to be undergoing a restructuring. There are reports of significant job cuts impacting as many as 300 workers globally. This announcement is surprising, particularly given Virtuos’s strong portfolio, featuring successful ports such as Horizon Zero Dawn for PC and the forthcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta.
French video game journalist Gauthier Andres indicates that sources inside the company hint that roughly 7% of Virtuos’s worldwide staff could face job losses. The most significant effect appears to be in China, where approximately 200 jobs are threatened. Another 100 positions are at risk in the U.S. and Europe. This concerning trend arises soon after Virtuos entered South Korea by launching a new studio.
Reports suggest that one reason for these layoffs could be the terms of Virtuos’s contract for Oblivion Remastered. The studio allegedly did not obtain performance-related royalty bonuses, indicating they did not benefit financially from the remaster’s impressive sales. Upon finishing the development cycle, there were indications of reduced team bonuses and a pause on salary increases, leading to confusion among staff.
Moreover, multiple sources reported to Andres that Virtuos is progressively investigating generative AI technologies. Although there is no verified connection between AI implementation and job cuts, this indicates a broader troubling trend within the gaming sector. Conversations about AI taking over human employment are increasing, with comparable speculation impacting other significant firms such as Xbox. Even with these internal adjustments, current initiatives such as Oblivion Remastered and Metal Gear Solid Delta are anticipated to proceed without disruption.
