‘Why didn’t anyone think of this before?’: Former Elder Scrolls Online boss loves Crimson Desert, but making ‘a singleplayer MMO is almost like cheating’ to him
Matt Firor, veteran MMO developer and long-time head of ZeniMax Online Studios, resigned in 2025 following the cancellation of in-development MMO Blackbird and subsequent mass layoffs at the studio. Firor has been involved in the MMO industry since 2001, beginning with Dark Age of Camelot, and most recently oversaw The Elder Scrolls Online, a live-service MMO launched in 2014.
In a recent interview with MinnMax, Firor discussed his departure and current gaming interests. Though he departed from leading ESO, he revealed he still privately plays the long-running title. His primary gaming focus, however, has shifted to Pearl Abyss’ Crimson Desert, a single-player action RPG that incorporates extensive MMO-inspired design systems and mechanics.
Firor expressed strong praise for Crimson Desert, calling it “fantastic” and noting its clever design approach. He remarked to other game developers that creating a single-player experience with MMO-like systems is “almost like cheating” compared to building a true multiplayer online game, suggesting that avoiding the infrastructure and complexity requirements of actual MMOs allows developers to deliver comparable depth and scale in a more manageable format. The comment reflects Firor’s industry expertise and insights into contemporary trends where single-player games increasingly adopt live-service and MMO conventions.