Xbox just laid off a core Bethesda artist who worked on Skyrim, Oblivion, Morrowind, Fallout 3, and Fallout 4 – 27-year veteran Christiane Meister
Microsoft's gaming division is undertaking unprecedented layoffs, affecting 1,600 staff members immediately and targeting 3,200 total positions by the end of fiscal year 2027. Among those losing their jobs is Christiane Meister, a veteran character artist at Bethesda who spent nearly three decades designing and managing character assets for the Elder Scrolls series—including Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim—as well as multiple Fallout games.
Meister's termination exemplifies the scale at which the company is eliminating core creative personnel. Her LinkedIn profile now lists her as a former developer seeking new opportunities. The layoffs reveal a tension in Microsoft's stated direction: the company claims to be strengthening its focus on flagship franchises whilst simultaneously removing experienced artists and designers integral to developing those properties.
- Microsoft laid off 1,600 Xbox employees immediately, with 3,200 total positions to be eliminated by end of fiscal 2027
- Christiane Meister, a 27-year Bethesda character artist who led design on Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises, was among those terminated