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Lucas Slominski

@lucas.slominski.art

Concept Artist & Illustrator (formerly of ZeniMax Online Studios) I draw and I know things. Any views expressed here are mine alone. lucas.slominski.art

25 Posts156 Follower24 Folgt
Matt Firor@thefiror.bsky.social · 3w ago

I'm hardly an impartial observer (and am even name-checked in the article), but this article does a good job summing up the utter senselessness of the recent carnage at ZeniMax Online. Again, my heart goes out to everyone impacted, it is just so cruel and unnecessary www.pcgamer.com/games/mmo/th...

The Elder Scrolls Online's developer deserved better than to get sucker-punched by Microsoft twice in two years

$2 billion over 10 years can't save you from Xbox.

pcgamer.com

ZOS United-CWA@zosunited.bsky.social · last yr.

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.

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)
Lucas Slominski@lucas.slominski.art · last yr.

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.