As a passionate gamer, I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled on the recent news about Microsoft’s tough choice to let go of over 9,000 employees across their company. The chatter has been rife with speculation and worry, but it seems that the future of some upcoming games might also be at stake.
One game, in particular, caught my attention – a thrilling sci-fi shooter from ZeniMax Online Studios, the team behind “The Elder Scrolls Online.” This game was reportedly progressing nicely, with Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer himself expressing his pleasure after playing an early build of it back in March. However, according to Bloomberg’s Jason Schrier, there are whispers that this promising project might have been axed as well. It’s a bummer for us gamers who were eagerly anticipating this new adventure!
As reported by one of Schrier’s sources, Spencer found himself deeply engrossed in the game codenamed “Blackbird,” becoming so captivated that Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty had to forcibly take the controller from him. This revelation, stemming from a relatively new build in March, left many developers taken aback when they learned that the project was abruptly discontinued.
According to Schrier’s source, it was quite astonishing when Blackbird was canceled. This is because, only a few months prior, the game had left Xbox executives utterly impressed during a demo in March. In fact, during that demonstration, Spencer was so engrossed in the game that Matt Booty, the head of Xbox Game Studios, had to take the controller away so they could continue with the meeting, as confirmed by two individuals who were present.
It’s been hinted that not much is known about the game Blackbird, but there are suggestions that it would be a cooperative loot-shooter similar to Bungie’s Destiny.
Despite appearing to progress smoothly since the project’s commencement in 2018, Blackbird had not yet moved into full production. Instead, it remained in pre-production, as ZeniMax Online Studios was still in the process of creating a completely new game engine to support the title, which accounted for the extended development period.
The project’s termination coincided with the studio’s growth of its workforce, particularly for the development of ‘Blackbird’. As per a report, the team responsible for ‘Blackbird’ was informed by Booty last year that the closure of studios such as Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks was strategically planned to give Xbox the flexibility to allocate additional resources to teams needing expansion.
Given the current events at ZeniMax Online Studios and Microsoft as a whole, it’s been announced that Matt Firor, the studio’s president, will be departing the company towards the end of this month. This news was shared by Firor himself on social media platforms, expressing his 18-year tenure at the studio. In his absence, Jo Burba, Susan Kath, and Rich Lambert will assume leadership roles within the studio.
In his statement, Firor said he would no longer contribute to the game development, but assured continued support by cheering everyone on. He also emphasized that there are still numerous stories waiting to be explored, adventures yet to be embarked upon, and expressed confidence that this vibrant community will continue the shared history and achievements of the game.
Read More
- Xbox’s Forza Horizon 5 Sold an Outrageous 2 Million Copies on PS5 in a Month
- Gold Rate Forecast
- xAI’s $300/month Grok 4, billed as a “maximally truth-seeking AI” — seemingly solicits Elon Musk’s opinion on controversial topics
- How Much Does a PS5 Equivalent PC Cost in 2025?
- Lewis Capaldi Details “Mental Episode” That Led to Him “Convulsing”
- Why Stephen Baldwin Is “Blessed” By Justin & Hailey Bieber’s Marriage
- Ryan Lochte Gets Cozy With New Woman Amid Kayla Reid Divorce
- Anime’s Greatest Summer 2024 Shonen Hit Drops New Look Ahead of Season 2
- Microsoft has a new way to use AI in OneNote — but a “dumb” feature excites me more
- Wrestler Marcus “Buff” Bagwell Undergoes Leg Amputation
2025-07-04 14:41