Lucas Slominski

ZeniMax Union Responds to Microsoft Canceling Unannounced MMO: 'A Future Has Been Stolen From Us' - IGN Following a wave of mass layoffs that impacted an estimated 9,100 employees at Microsoft, many of whom were in its Xbox gaming division, the union of employees at Xbox subsidiary ZeniMax have responde...

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www.ign.com/articles/zen...

First part of the ZeniMax Online Studio United-CWA statement that reads, Earlier this month, Microsoft indefinitely shelved an unannounced MMORPG at ZeniMax Online Studios, a shock to the 222 ZOSU-CWA developers working on the project. It has been heartening and validating to see our game mentioned in the press and by players that would have loved to see the results of our work. Undoubtedly, a future has been stolen from many of us and our community will never experience an amazing game. However, despite discussions regarding the status of our employment, the fact is: we have not yet been laid off. While we understand that for most of us something like a layoff is inevitable, last December both the teams behind The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) and the unannounced project voted overwhelmingly to form a union and establish ZeniMax Online Studios United-CWA (ZOSU-CWA). Worker-volunteers elected to represent the interests of our union are currently bargaining with Microsoft for the benefit of our impacted teammates. While Microsoft and ZOSU-CWA bargain over how we move forward following the project closure, the developers behind the unannounced project remain employees of ZeniMax Online Studios with full pay and benefits.

Second part of the ZeniMax Online Studio United-CWA statement that reads: On July 2nd, our lives were upended without prior notice or communication from Microsoft leadership and without clear understanding about the status of our employment. In light of this, our union came together with urgency, gathering and distributing information and resources to our affected members. Where Microsoft has failed to support the talented craftspeople who have generated billions in revenue, our union has stepped up to provide clarity and support. It is true that a layoff may be in the future for some of our members. However, as a result of our organizing, we are able to ensure that those impacted will be able to depart with dignity. More importantly, the work of ZOSU-CWA will continue so that our remaining teammates — the stalwart developers of ESO — can follow in the footsteps of our colleagues across other departments and studios at Microsoft, including our union siblings at ZeniMax Workers United (ZWU-CWA). We look forward to other units who will soon ratify fair contracts that will guarantee the rights we all deserve. In solidarity, ZeniMax Online Studios United-CWA (ZOSU-CWA)

On July 2nd, Microsoft announced they were shelving an unannounced project at ZOS, a shock to over 200 of our devs working on the project.

However, despite discussions regarding the status of our employment, the fact is: we have not yet been laid off.

Our full statement can be found below.

YouTube video by Game Developers Conference Illustrating Tamriel: Creating Key Art for The Elder Scrolls Online

Another fantastic talk by @lucas.slominski.art was his 2019 GDC presentation that walked through the creation of ESO key art, and how he balances creative and directorial requirements.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvDV...

Thank you, this genuinely means a lot to me! The layoffs, combined with the cancellation of the new project, have been pretty devastating, and like many artists, my brain spends a lot of effort trying to convince me that I'm not very good.

I really appreciate your kind words! ❤️

But I really want to emphasize that, for every dev name that fans recognize, there are dozens of incredibly talented creatives you've never heard of working right alongside them. The caliber of endless talent that was collected on this team would simply blow people's minds. (2/2)

Thank you for the support! Matt is a true leader who genuinely always had our backs. Leamon is an extraordinary creative mind, and he and I collaborated extensively on this amazing project, helping to build an original world that no one will ever get to see now. (1/2)

Was my position eliminated in the latest round of Microsoft layoffs?

That should be an easy question to answer, but I have yet to receive any communication from my employer whatsoever. My work-related accounts were abruptly deleted yesterday without any notice while I was on vacation.

Just an invented character, because I didn't want to reduce a named NPC to a sexualized prop for Stibbons.

Naryu's hair is blocking Vikord's chin braid, so admittedly there isn't much to go on when trying to identify him. 😆

The one in the first image is an unnamed Dark Seducer. The second one is Vikord Skullcleaver!

Months and months of digital painting, impossibly squeezed into a minute-long timelapse. 🙃

Thanks for the kind words! I'm glad you found me again here. 🙂

They're in there. 👀

Thanks, Gina!

Sooo much of both of those! There's a lot I could say about it, but I'll save it for tomorrow's livestream.

Thank you! I accept your generous offer! 🤑

It's been awhile #ESOfam, but I painted something for you. Happy anniversary @elderscrollsonline.com! ❤️

Kingsley's still doing his best to interfere with my productivity.

This tracks with my experience.

Today we, a majority of video game workers at ZeniMax Online Studios and the workers behind ESO, are proud to announce the launch of our union with
@cwaunion.bsky.social! ✊