Bethesda HR Forced Staff To Remove Small Memorial To Laid

This week, Xbox announced a sweeping round of job cuts that swept through its studios, including Bethesda. When Bethesda’s Rockville team attempted to honor the employees who were let go with a modest memorial, HR reportedly ordered its removal, as reported by the BGS Union.

On Monday, Microsoft and Xbox announced a massive reduction of staff across its portfolio—id Software, Obsidian, Activision, and others—while divesting studios such as Double Fine and Ninja Theory. The purge, a recurring theme for Xbox, is projected to extend over the next year, with Bethesda and its satellite units also hit hard.

On Tuesday, the Austin branch of Bethesda, according to the BGS Union, erected a modest “Celebration of Service” tribute, displaying photographs of the departed employees to honor them and demonstrate solidarity amid the upheaval.

The Rockville headquarters followed suit, and on Wednesday the BGS Union shared a snapshot of the memorial honoring the laid‑off developers. However, the union says HR subsequently instructed its removal.

The Bethesda Game Studios Union has reported that Human Resources promptly ordered the removal of a “Celebration of Service” display from a shared office space.

The piece, which had been proudly showcased in a common area, was taken down almost immediately after the union’s office manager was instructed to do so.

According to the union, common areas have long served as informal galleries for fan projects and other creative displays, but HR deemed the service celebration inappropriate for the shared space.

Kotaku has reached out to both the BGS Union and Xbox to investigate the removal of a memorial and to determine the current status of the Austin tribute, a gesture that has resonated deeply with the community.

In 2022, Xbox publicly pledged not to oppose unionization efforts at Activision Blizzard, a stance intended to smooth the path for Microsoft’s planned acquisition of the Warcraft and Call of Duty franchises. While the company honored that commitment by permitting studios to organize, union members now claim that Xbox is dragging its feet on negotiations, stalling contract talks that cover layoff protections and other essential benefits.