Former ESO Lead Speaks Out On Xbox’s Decision To Cancel New ZeniMax MMO
Microsoft’s cancellation of Project Blackbird, a new MMO in development at ZeniMax Online Studios, continues to reverberate in the gaming industry. The game was cancelled during Microsoft’s broader wave of project cancellations and developer layoffs last summer, and has now drawn detailed comments from the studio’s founder and lead, Matt Firor, who conceived the project and shepherded it through multiple development stages.
Speaking to MinnMax, Firor acknowledged understanding Microsoft’s reasoning for the cancellation, but described the news as “a pretty devastating blow.” The veteran developer characterized the cancelled project as a “missed opportunity” and revealed that he had “waited his entire career to create” the game. Firor’s frustration extends beyond the cancellation itself—he expressed broader criticism of Microsoft’s operational approach, remarking that studios and projects are reduced to mere “numbers on a ledger” rather than being evaluated as creative endeavors with long-term potential.
The departure was particularly significant given Firor’s two-decade tenure at ZeniMax Online, where he had worked since the studio’s founding in 2007. Following Project Blackbird’s cancellation, Firor departed from the company, marking the end of his nearly two-decade association.
Project Blackbird was reportedly a cyberpunk-themed RPG MMO, representing the kind of ambitious, genre-blending project that could have expanded Microsoft’s gaming portfolio. Its cancellation reflects broader industry consolidation and the increasingly cautious approach major publishers are adopting toward new intellectual properties and experimental game concepts.