After Xbox, Build A Rocket Boy, Don’t Nod or Electronic Arts, several hundred jobs would now be threatened at Virtuos, developers of the Remaster of Oblivion.
Did you think the bad news would take a few vacation during this summer period? You are very heavy. Only two weeks after the cataclysmic announcements that occurred at Microsoft, which confirmed the dismissal more than 9,000 employees as well as The cancellation of multiple projects In development among Xbox Game Studios, everything suggests that another studio is also in great difficulty: virtuos.
Releases would be underway at Virtuos
And if this name tells you something, it’s normal. This is simply the studio hiding behind the remaster of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivionreleased earlier this year, and behind the remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eaterwhose exit is expected for August 28. Two big projects, therefore, which would not prevent the company located in Singapore from separating from part of its workforce if we believe the information shared by Gauthier Andres, Aka Gautoz for friends.
In a series of messages published on Bluesky Avantau, the ex-journalist of Gamekult today at the head of Origami has indeed declared that “Mass layoffs are underway at Virtuos”and that “300 positions (7% of the workforce) are at risk in this specialist in subcontracting established in Asia, the USA and Europe”. According to its sources, China is more particularly targeted by these layoffs. However, they would also affect many poles around the world, including among the three French branches.
“Word of the announcement made to the teams a few weeks ago: ‘Competitiveness'”then announced in particular Gautoz, before explaining that the new virtuos strategy, “Who wants to reposition himself on larger sites/licenses (at BluePoint?)” could be one of the causes of these layoffs. “Virtuos would have made great efforts on The Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered, with an overcularity policy vis-à-vis the budget and a contract without royalties. Result: teams put to the test for a pure showcase, dedicated to seeing its profitability discussed ”.
However, as the first figures unveiled, the game seems to have awarded a real enthusiasm on the part of the public. Because as revealed last May, it had not taken much more than a week for virtuos to become the third best-selling game of the year 2025 in the United States, just behind Monster Hunter Wilds et Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Similarly, The Elder Scrolls Oblivion had experienced a large peak of players simultaneously on Steam, in addition to bringing together more than 4 million players at the end of April.
But the fate already seemed to be sealed for Virtuos who, according to the information obtained by Gautoz, had already been the victim of a “Gel of increases and [d’]a reduction in group bonuses ». This would be effective in February. Several weeks before the release of the game, which had still not been announced at that time. “Management had then been arrested on the risk of dismissals downstream of these measures, but wanted to be reassuring” Then specifies Gautoz on this subject.
Protests are underway
“It is in this context that a strike is taking place right now at Virtuos Lyon” We then learn. The objective: to protest against these dismissals, of course, but also “Protect the abilities of future action of this antenna, already struggling with centralization/fusion of the command of French studios”. Especially since not to fix anything, sources say that Virtuos would have already started to look into the issue of generative AIa definitively burning subject in industry at present.
“Once the fatigue and anger evoked, most of my exchanges with witnesses of the situation land in the same place: in full strategic reversal, Virtuos would be losing the confidence of part of his employees” Then concluded Gautoz. At a time when these lines are written, the company, which is currently finalizing the development of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, has still not reacted to these allegations. However, we hope that an official speech will quickly enlighten us on the situation.
Source : Gauthier ‘Gautoz’ Andres
