Lie Within The Cosmos: Refraction

Indie Game Studio from the bush developing "Lie Within The Cosmos: Refraction". Founded by @shawntejmb

[UESP @UESP_net]

1,600 Xbox employees were hit directly by the recent Microsoft layoffs, with an additional 1,600 from Xbox still planned for a total of 3,200 employees. This has included/will include those under the ZeniMax umbrella, including Bethesda, ZOS, id, and Arkane.

Jeff Gardiner claims that 35 were let go from Bethesda, and 95 from id.

According to ZOS Senior Content Designer Katherine Souze, this included "half" of the team in the Elder Scrolls Online content team, although she has since deleted the original post. We know this has included some very public facing people, including Lead Dungeon Director Mike Finnigan and Community Manager Gina Bruno.

Over this entire era of layoffs in the games industry, there has been a regularity to it that has become predictable. Across the industry, teams have been devastated if their project failed with the studio often shutting down. But successes can see the same thing happen.

Perhaps the only positive thing that can be said is that no studios seemed to have been closed for once. Studios were released and returned to independence or sold instead of just being shut down.

As gamers, we haven't really felt like this practice and atmosphere in the games industry has been producing more and better games from the AAA space.

If the new CEO of Xbox is right and the involved restructuring of their management leads to more good games that come out quicker, that will be fantastic. But the past waves of layoffs haven't managed to do that at all, there's no reason to think they'll suddenly work this time. The safe bet is that these layoffs are just not going to stop.

[UESP @UESP_net]

A list of people we know who have been laid off at ZOS and Bethesda:

ZOS
Community Manager Gina Bruno
Lead Dungeon Director Mike Finnigan
Writer Designer Andrew Siañez-De La O
Writer Designer Julianna Comstock
Senior Writer Designer Jeff Grubb
Project Art Director Marc Hudgins
Senior Concept Artist Christina Cornett
Senior Animator Ami DeLullo
Animator Evan Van Biert
Senior Tools Engineer Robert Bailey
QA Tester Page Branson
Producer Ethan Koltz
Environmental Artist Brandon Rush
Associate Sound Designer Andrew Jordan
Senior Sound Designer Daniel Costello
Associate Sound Designer Sebastian Theodoro
QA Tester Trevor Bream
DevOps Engineer William Novak
Realtime FX Artist Jacob Wynn
Senior VFX Artist Anelise Mize
Lead Designer Ed Stark
Senior Encounter Designer Morgan Goin
Encounter Designer Erinn Fecteau
Senior Encounter Designer James Audet
Tools Product Owner Sydney Thibeault
Senior Software Engineer Dustin Thurston
Live Game Lead Gregory Roth
Content Manager Milo Webb
QA Manager Erik Marby
Narrative Director Bill Slavicsek
Lead Narrative Designer Richard Baker
Writer Designer Alexandria Baker
Writer Designer Ameya Vinayaraj

Bethesda
Community Manager Jessica Clark
Game Designer Simon Préfontaine
GRC Engineer Wayne Saunders
Associate Quest Designer Griffin DeClaire
Quest Designer Stephanie Zachariadis
Systems Designer Jean Paul Salman
Gameplay Engineer Anne Barrett
Monetization Designer Kevin Benavides
Lead Systems Designer Jacob Naasz
Senior Build and Release Programmer Anthony Ford
Lead Quest Designer Joshua Moretto
Senior QA Tester Steven Hoyle

[UESP @UESP_net]

Bethesda employees have requested that you support this post on the Xbox feedback platform in response to the recent wave of annual layoffs. Please give it an upvote/supporting comment. https://t.co/3U4Er9q0RB

[Lie Within The Cosmos: Refraction @lwtcproject]

Bethesda Games is what inspired me to make my own projects (and where I got my start), so today will be amplifying the voices of those effected by the Layoffs and sharing more information about the strikes on my developer page, as well as my personal one!

[One BGS @OneBGS_CWA]

For the first time, we are thrilled to show the world the symbol that represents the unity of all Bethesda Game Studios employees.

Designed by our very own @p4td and beloved by all, it shows the very reason for our existence: To be a force for positive change at BGS.

[Heidi Tabing, Voice Actor @HeidiTabing]

Started posting comics on Webtoons, IN order, and with summaries so you can actually follow along with the story 😁 https://t.co/w1u3kPbwkX

[GLITCH @glitch_prod]

Hey all, Kevin here. Please read.

[GLITCH @glitch_prod]

After selling out of the initial screening times in a matter of hours, we're excited to announce that 🇺🇸 U.S  cinemas are opening MORE screening dates/times all the way up until the 18th June!!

ALSO DC: TLA is now playing in 🇦🇺Australia, 🇳🇿New Zealand & 🇻🇪Venezuela!! Screening times for oceania countries will be from the 5th June (Aussie/NZ time) to align with rest of the world!
More countries for release are in the works, so stay tuned...

[Lie Within The Cosmos: Refraction @lwtcproject]

Circumstances have settled so I will be easing back into work - and also, a few other exciting things are in progress related to the project so do stand by! 🥳

[Lie Within The Cosmos: Refraction @lwtcproject]

I did go a little quiet last year but the project was and still is in development but this year I will be on hiatus as it is going to be a challenging year ahead.

[Shawnté 🎨🎙️ @shawntejmb]

Development of Lie Within The Cosmos: Refraction (@lwtcproject) is officially on hiatus this year, to fully navigate cancer treatment and care. Development stalled in 2025 because of personal circumstances but this year I have to go on hiatus.

tiakina tōku pāpā

[Henry Schrader @HenrySchraderVO]

I'm finally allowed to post about it, so here's my video letting you all know I'm going to Anime Midwest this year as a guest! More information here: https://t.co/FWc8BsobSp come out and see me everybody!

[Abigail Carey @AbigailCareyVO]

Next, the Video Game Demo.

Again, written, directed, & produced by @JosephDSpenceVA. His work always super-exceeds expectations, and I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a demo.

[Lie Within The Cosmos: Refraction @lwtcproject]

@enveelinalice Thank you so much!! 😊

[Lie Within The Cosmos: Refraction @lwtcproject]

Currently working with some brilliant talents already to bring Refraction to life with the art, story, music and voice over and now I am in talks about turning it into a SAG Aftra union project. We will do our best to get it there! 💪

[🐧Vikram Rajan🐧 @VikkitheVA]

VOICE ACTORS! THE ROSTER IS FINALLY OPEN!

We are mainly casting for Indie and Non Union Animation & Video Game Projects.

However, we will also be casting for the occasional UNION projects and/or ADR/Dubbing projects being sent our way!

1/5 - Please read all the instructions:)

[Henry Schrader @HenrySchraderVO]

Now that the details are finalized, I'm excited to announce the first official livestream signing with @StreamilyLive! It will be on my twitch channel, Sep. 21st at 6 PM EST. I'll see you all there!

https://t.co/JLoWtjBPSU

https://t.co/Hormx9Pvui

[Lie Within The Cosmos: Refraction @lwtcproject]

@AbigailCareyVO Thank you so much ❤️❤️

[Lie Within The Cosmos: Refraction @lwtcproject]

@thisbuifloats Happy Birthday!!

[Lie Within The Cosmos: Refraction @lwtcproject]

Sometime later this month I will be rebranding from Astrum Atelier as other entities also use this handle, and it will be far too confusing to continue later down the line. Stand by for an update!! ✨✔️

[Bindy Coda🦖✨🇵🇭🇺🇸 @BindyCoda]

Fam, be careful of Twitter casting calls. Verify anyone who reaches out to you and don’t give out personal/financial info without due diligence.

Scammers are going through casting calls and impersonating the original posters.