CWA union members left a giant inflatable rat outside Bethesda Game Studios’ office in Maryland to protest the recent mass layoff that saw hundreds of employees depart Xbox studios. Around 800 red flags dotted the grassy patches, representing everyone impacted by the July layoff.
Sharma was at Bethesda Game Studios to have a hands-on ‘live playthrough’ of the upcoming The Elder Scrolls game. While she would have had interesting conversations with the studio team, her visit was overshadowed by the inflatable rat standing outside the office.
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Morale has been low across Xbox studios following the July mass layoffs. Chris Hays of id Software recently confirmed that morale has never been lower in the studio. The deed has already been done, and it is unlikely the protest will cause Xbox to shift ground. In a social media post, Sharma spoke highly of The Elder Scrolls 6, describing the game with lofty words.
“Live playthrough of The Elder Scrolls VI: ******** this morning,” Sharma wrote on X. “The scale and grandeur are incredible. The story is even greater.”
After the post, fans of the franchise started analyzing Sharma’s asterisks for clues. Some said the use of 8 asterisks was intentional, with each asterisk representing a letter in the name of the upcoming game. Interestingly, while commenting on her post, Bethesda Game Studios’ official account also used 8 asterisks.
It was great being able to show you ********. Thank you for the kind words and a wonderful visit.
— Bethesda Game Studios (@BethesdaStudios) August 11, 2026
“With over 65 million copies sold, players are still exploring Skyrim 15 years later, but we know it’s been a very long wait for the sequel,” Todd Howard, Bethesda’s Game Director and Executive Producer, said recently. “The next chapter is on the way. We’re where we planned to be, loving how it looks, and playing it every day.”
The Elder Scrolls 6 was first announced on June 10, 2018, during the E3 2018 gaming convention. The game is promoted as the next big release from Bethesda Game Studios. But eight years after its announcement, there is still no set release window.
