After the layoffs at Zenimax in July, long-time studio head Matt Firor announced his departure. Now Elder Scrolls Online also loses its Game Director.
What specifically changes in the ESO team? On the official website of the MMORPG, Game Director Rich Lambert announced on August 19 that he will now take on the role of Studio Game Director as part of Zenimax’s restructuring.
As a result, Lambert is no longer directly involved in the development of Elder Scrolls Online. Instead, he will focus on the general affairs of the studio and the planning for the future.
Rich Lambert has been with Zenimax since 2007 and has been able to accompany the development of Elder Scrolls Online from the beginning as Lead Content Designer. Shortly after the launch, he was promoted to Creative Director. As of June 2023, he was the Game Director of the MMORPG.
When it came to presenting new chapters or answering questions from MeinMMO editors (for example in June 2024), it was mostly Rich Lambert who took on this job in recent years. He describes his promotion in his message on elderscrollsonline.com as “bittersweet”.
Who is the new Game Director? Nick Giacomini is being promoted from Director of Product Management to the new head of Elder Scrolls Online. Giacomini has been playing the MMORPG since the beta and joined the Zenimax team in 2019.
All mounts become water rats
What’s happening in ESO right now? This week, the dungeon pack “Feast of Shadows” and the free update 47 for PC and Mac have gone live. Those who want to play the two dungeons need the Content Pass for 2025, the Premium Edition, or an ESO Plus subscription. Alternatively, you can purchase it in the Crown Store.
The free updates include, among other things:
- Your mounts can now swim.
- There is a new option to replay quest dialogues.
- Introduction of stackable findings reports, allowing you to have more space in your inventory.
- The ability to reroll visions in the Endless Archive.
You can find the full patch notes on elderscrollsonline.com. The content is expected to be released on consoles on September 3.
At Zenimax, the personnel carousel has been turning since the wave of layoffs by Microsoft. This also affects long-time studio head Matt Firor, who is leaving the company after nearly 2 decades. You can read more about it here: After 18 years, a legendary developer leaves the MMORPG for Elder Scrolls, fans say: “I would leave too.”
