ZeniMax Online Layoffs, The Elder Scrolls Online Charges On

PC Gamer via Joystiq is reporting that The Elder Scrolls Online developer ZeniMax Online was hit with layoffs this morning, though the total number of employees let go appears to be unclear. While I can understand Pete's dismissal that there is always churn after a massive game like this matures, I can't say that I ever recall a similar reduction with World of Warcraft, The Lord of the Rings Online, or other games that by all accounts were deemed quite successful:

"As is the norm for games of this type, we had ramped up a large workforce to develop a game of vast scale, and ramped up our customer service to handle the expected questions and community needs of The Elder Scrolls Online at launch," Bethesda VP of PR and Marketing Pete Hines told Joystiq. "Now that we are nearly 6 months post launch, we have a thriving online community in a game that runs smoothly."

Hines continued that the studio has adjusted staffing to meet the ongoing needs and continues to operate with a large work force.

He added, "We remain strongly committed to The Elder Scrolls Online, and continue to invest heavily to develop new content for PC players, prepare the game for its console launch, and handle our planned expansion into important international territories. As for customer service, we continue to operate large support centers in Hunt Valley, MD and Galway, Ireland."