Matt Firor, the former studio head of ZeniMax Online Studios, has confirmed his resignation due to the cancellation of Project Blackbird, an anticipated MMORPG. His LinkedIn statement expressed deep disappointment, as Blackbird was a project he had eagerly awaited throughout his career. The game, which had been under development since 2018, was preparing to move into full production before Xbox canceled it as part of broader layoffs impacting the studio. Firor, who co-founded ZeniMax Online in 2007 and was instrumental in launching The Elder Scrolls Online, will be advising some former colleagues informally while assessing his future options, though he has no immediate plans for a new development studio.

What led to the cancellation of Project Blackbird?

The cancellation of Project Blackbird resulted from Xbox's decision during a wave of layoffs within Microsoft. The project, which was nearing full production after years of development, faced a sudden end, impacting the entire development team.

Project Blackbird was intended to be a brand new sci-fi MMORPG designed to appeal to fans of expansive, immersive online worlds. Its cancellation was part of a larger trend of restructuring in major gaming companies, especially following Microsoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax Media in 2021. While ZeniMax Online Studios continues to develop The Elder Scrolls Online, the loss of Project Blackbird highlights the challenges faced by developers in a rapidly changing industry environment.