Former elder Scrolls Online lead Details MicrosoftS Impact
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The abrupt departure of a key figure from Zenimax Online and the cancellation of a highly anticipated game reveal a challenging climate within Xbox game studios.
- Matt Firor,founder of Zenimax Online,resigned after the cancellation of “Project Blackbird.”
- Firor confirmed the cancellation was the direct cause of his departure in a recent social media post.
- The decision to cancel “Project Blackbird” came amid company-wide layoffs and a push for increased profitability at Xbox.
- Former colleagues of Firor have since formed a new studio focused on creative freedom.
Matt Firor, who founded Zenimax Online in 2007 and spearheaded the success of The elder Scrolls Online, recently explained the reason behind his unexpected exit last summer.He resigned after microsoft canceled “Project Blackbird,” an online multiplayer game he had dedicated years to developing. The cancellation, and the subsequent layoffs at the studio, prompted firor to step down.
A Career-Defining Project Lost
“Project Blackbird was the game I had waited my entire career to create, and having it canceled led to my resignation,” Firor wrote in a January 1 post on LinkedIn, which he also shared on Bluesky. “My heart and thoughts are always with the impacted team members, many of whom I had worked 20+ years with, and all of whom were the most dedicated, amazingly talented group of developers in the industry.”
While Firor’s post doesn’t directly criticize Microsoft or Xbox leadership, which acquired Zenimax Online in 2021, the disappointment is palpable. The situation spurred some of Firor’s former colleagues to establish Sackbird Studios, a new venture prioritizing creative control. “With internal funding and full creative control, the studio is focused on crafting bold, character-driven experiences free from corporate compromises,” they stated last year.
Aspiring Design, Unexpected Halt
Bloomberg reported that “Project Blackbird” was envisioned as an ambitious loot shooter, blending the gameplay of Destiny and the atmospheric world-building of Blade Runner with the expansive quest design of an MMORPG. Microsoft gaming CEO Phil Spencer reportedly played a build of the game in March and expressed enthusiasm,making the eventual cancellation all the more surprising.
The decision to halt development coincided with broader changes within Xbox game studios,which were reportedly under pressure to achieve a 30-percent profit margin while simultaneously making all titles available through the Game Pass subscription service. This created a challenging environment for ambitious projects like “Project Blackbird,” ultimately leading to its demise and Firor’s departure.
