With the aftermath of a disheartening week for Microsoft, marked by layoffs and canceled Xbox games, insiders are gradually disclosing information about the shelved projects.
As a dedicated fan, I must say the sudden cancellations of Everwild and Perfect Dark were undeniably surprising at first, given their public announcement. However, the more I reflect on it, the more perplexing seems the cancellation of the unannounced MMORPG from the creators of The Elder Scrolls Online. It’s left me scratching my head in bewilderment.
According to Jason Schreier from Bloomberg, the game is known by the code name Blackbird and has been in development for about seven years. This game was intended to be a third-person, online loot-shooter, reminiscent of Destiny, and would feature within a new franchise. It had a futuristic, film noir style, much like Blade Runner, and prominently focused on movement in multiple dimensions.
In simpler terms, Schreir describes how the game enables players to perform actions like double jumping, dashing mid-air, utilizing a grappling hook, and scaling walls to navigate through skyscrapers. An early demo reportedly left an impression, and the developers aim for a launch in 2028.
In this particular segment of the game, the level of impression was so high that even Xbox head, Phil Spencer, found himself unable to resist trying it out. Consequently, his controller was taken away from him during a meeting as everyone present could only offer praise for the project.
Based on this commendation, the developer created a production strategy to expand upon the initial part (vertical slice) and subsequently add more content for release. This plan was apparently set up just a few months back, in March.
Just four months later, Blackbird is cancelled by Xbox.
Jason Schreier suggested that the reason for Blackbird’s cancellation remained unclear, as it was a potentially costly venture and Xbox might have deemed it too risky.
In a market already flooded with similar games, particularly live-service titles that didn’t do well, this was a fresh franchise we were developing. Simultaneously, our team was tasked with creating an entirely new engine for this game, which added to the complexity of the project.
As a devoted admirer, here’s my take:
The decision to discontinue the project has prompted me, Matt Firor, the studio head and founder of ZeniMax Online Studios, to announce my departure towards the end of this month. I am confident that The Elder Scrolls Online and our studio will thrive under the leadership of Jo Burba as Studio Head, Susan Kath in her role as Executive Producer, and Richard Lambert as Game Director. Their combined expertise will ensure a bright future for us all.
In wrapping up his article, Scheier states: “Cancelled video games can seem glamorous. They remain untarnished in our memories, free from the shortcomings and disputes that surface upon launch. However, for those who witnessed and experienced Blackbird, it left a painful mark.
Although Blackbird wasn’t officially verified, aside from Schreier’s report, there’s not much substantial information available. Yet, given our modern era of multiple gaming platforms, it was quite likely that there would be a PS5 version. Unfortunately, it seems that this game will now remain unseen.
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2025-07-04 15:06