Microsoft Grounds 'Blackbird': Elder Scrolls Online Devs' New MMO Bites the Dust – Ouch, Indeed!
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Microsoft cancelled ZeniMax Online Studios' new MMO, codenamed 'Blackbird,' as part of wider layoffs, and the studio president is stepping down, leaving the future uncertain but reminding us to keep the affected developers in mind.
Right, so Microsoft's been wielding the layoff axe again, and this time it's clipped the wings of a new MMO project from ZeniMax Online Studios (ZOS), the folks behind *The Elder Scrolls Online*. Word on the street (specifically, Bloomberg's Jason Schreier) is that this thing, codenamed 'Blackbird,' has been grounded after years of development. Ouch.
Now, before we get all doom and gloom, let's rewind a bit. ZOS has been keeping *ESO* alive and kicking for, like, ever – consistently adding content and generally keeping the fans happy. You gotta give them credit for that staying power, eh? They even built a new engine around 2019 specifically for this 'Blackbird' project, hinting at big, ambitious plans. "The vision for our next game is grand in every sense of the word," they said back then. So, what went wrong?
Well, we don't know the specifics. But it's hard not to see this as part of a wider trend. Remember the *Everwild* cancellation over at Rare? It's starting to feel like Microsoft's got a graveyard of promising, but ultimately shelved, projects. That being said, it's worth mentioning that ZeniMax Online Studios president Matt Firor is also stepping down later this month, with Jo Burba taking over as the new studio head. Firor has been with the studio since its founding in 2007. Change is in the air, to say the least.
And while cancelled games always sting, let's not forget the human cost. Schreier noted some ZeniMax Online Studios employees abruptly losing Slack access, not knowing whether they still have jobs. That’s rough, mate. Hopefully, those affected land on their feet.
Look, the gaming industry is a volatile beast. We all know that. Projects get canned. Studios shift direction. But at the end of the day, it's about the people pouring their hearts and souls into these games. So, here's hoping for brighter days for everyone impacted by these cuts. And who knows, maybe one day we'll see some elements of 'Blackbird' reborn in another form. Stranger things have happened, haven't they?
Tags: MMO, Microsoft, Layoffs, Elder Scrolls Online, Game Development
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun