Virtuous Video Game Studio Reportedly Facing Mass Layoffs

Remaster of The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion Remastered. Source: Bethesda
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Key points
  1. A rumor is circulating claiming that the studio behind The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is facing mass layoffs. 
  2. French journalist Gauthier Andres alleges that 300 positions are being affected. 
  3. The leadership supposedly lost trust in its staff, and the studio did not see royalty payments from Oblivion Remastered. 

French journalist Gauthier Andres alleges that 300 job positions may be affected at Virtuous, the video game studio responsible for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. The title was one of the best-selling games of 2025 thus far, but the studio supposedly did not see royalty payments from the game, according to the French journalist.

INFO : des licenciements de masse sont est cours chez Virtuos, studio derrière Oblivion Remastered et le futur Metal Gear Solid Δ.300 postes (7% de l'effectif) sont à risque chez ce spécialiste de la sous-traitance implanté en Asie, aux USA et en Europe, dont trois antennes en France.🧵 1/10

Gauthier 'Gautoz' Andres (@gautoz.cool) 2025-07-16T14:45:45.778Z

The source claims that 200 workers are based in China, with the other 100 based in other areas, including French studios. Virtuous’s work policy is supposedly to create over-the-top quality within the budget and contracts without royalties, which inevitably causes issues within the development workforce. The leadership allegedly announced a freeze on raises and a reduction in bonuses; developers at Virtuos Lyon have supposedly begun going on strike to stand up for the rights of the workers.

Gauthier Andres provided no sources, but claims that official communications will soon arrive. 

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered sold more copies within its first month of sales than the original sold in its first year of release, according to GameRant. The remastered title was released on April 22, 2025, and is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. 

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