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In Protest Of Mass Layoffs, Bethesda Devs Greet Xbox Leadership With A Giant Inflatable Rat
Kotaku • • technology
Key Points:
- Bethesda’s Rockville office workers protested mass layoffs by inflating a giant rat, known as Scabby, and planting 800 red flags outside the office, each representing a laid-off employee since July 2025.
- Inside the office, employees displayed posters and balloons to highlight the impact of layoffs, despite management's attempts to remove these displays.
- Xbox announced plans to lay off around 3,200 employees as part of a “great reset” aimed at returning the company to profitability, leading to studio closures, project cancellations, and spin-offs of former Xbox studios.
- The future of studios like Ninja Theory, Undead Labs, and Arkane Lyon remains uncertain, with potential buyouts and strategic options being explored.
- Xbox workers, supported by the Communications Workers of America, are organizing rallies across the U.S. and Canada on August 18th to protest layoffs and demand fair contracts, including layoff protections.
