Summary
- ZeniMax’s new sci-fi MMO codenamed “Blackbird” has been cancelled.
- The project had been in development since 2018 with a custom-built engine.
- Hundreds of developers at ZeniMax were let go as part of Microsoft’s massive layoffs.
ZeniMax’s Cancelled MMO “Blackbird” After Years of Development
The cancelled MMO from ZeniMax Online Studios, known internally as “Blackbird,” was reportedly making steady progress before it was shut down during Microsoft’s latest round of mass layoffs.
First reported by IGN, the game was in development since 2018 and was being built on a brand-new engine, designed specifically for this new sci-fi IP.
Sources familiar with the project shared that Blackbird had just completed pre-production and was preparing to ramp up into full development. According to IGN, Xbox executives had even greenlit the expansion of the project team, shifting developers from other studios—including The Elder Scrolls Online and even from Arkane Austin, which had recently been shuttered. Unfortunately, the growing momentum wasn’t enough to save the game.
Layoffs Hit Entire Team, ZeniMax President Steps Down
As part of Microsoft’s company-wide layoffs affecting over 9,000 people, every single team member working on Blackbird has reportedly been let go. These layoffs have hit ZeniMax Online Studios particularly hard, with “several hundred” employees impacted.
To make matters worse, ZeniMax president Matt Firor announced his resignation on the very same day, further signalling the extent of the internal shakeup.
The scale of the cuts has left employees in shock. Reports mention that many learned of their dismissal after losing access to workplace tools like Slack—before being officially notified by HR. The cancellation has left the future of ZeniMax in question, especially given the studio’s past success with The Elder Scrolls Online.
While Microsoft has not officially confirmed Blackbird’s cancellation, Xbox Game Studios chief Matt Booty recently stated that “several” unannounced projects are no longer moving forward.
Other major cancellations confirmed this month include Rare’s Everwild and The Initiative’s reboot of Perfect Dark. These are part of broader layoffs that have seen over 15,000 jobs cut this year alone across various divisions, including Xbox, Blizzard, and King.
