United Kingdom, July 9 -- Bethesda staff have warned that this week's sweeping Xbox layoffs will have a "substantial and cascading effect" on development of The Elder Scrolls VI, with staff fearing the long-awaited role-playing game could face further delays.

According to multiple current and former employees who spoke anonymously to IGN, more than 50 jobs have been cut across Bethesda Game Studios, including staff working directly on the successor to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Those affected reportedly include programmers, artists and designers, with one employee claiming that a veteran developer who had been with the studio since The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind was among those laid off.

One Bethesda employee told IGN: "Their loss ...