A long-time Bethesda developer with 27 years of experience has been laid off as part of Xbox's recent layoffs, sparking concerns among staff that the use of cheaper contractors could delay the development of The Elder Scrolls VI. The layoffs have reportedly affected key personnel and morale at the company. The extent of the impact on The Elder Scrolls VI and other projects is unclear, but the layoffs appear to be part of a larger effort to focus on the company's strongest franchises.