The abrupt termination of ZeniMax Online Studios’ (ZOS) highly anticipated multiplayer project, internally known as Project Blackbird, and the exit of CEO Matt Firor has left the team in turmoil.

Dozens of roles were eliminated, including veterans like ZOS graphics programming lead Alex Tardif, who contributed to the studio for a decade and discussed The Elder Scrolls Online‘s technical aspects in a 2021 Wccftech feature. In a recent LinkedIn post, Tardif reflected on the canceled title, noting that the upcoming MMO was “on a promising path” and praised the new engine’s progress under his team’s oversight.

Our venture was shelved. After years of developing a fresh engine and MMO, despite challenges, we were gaining momentum. A standout achievement was our cutting-edge rendering system, crafted by an exceptional graphics team. If any of them seek opportunities soon, I wholeheartedly recommend them—incredibly skilled, driven, and innovative professionals who elevated every task.

For fans invested in ZOS’s work—like myself, with countless hours logged in ESO—this outcome is deeply disappointing. Yet, viewing it pragmatically, seven years of development with no public reveals and delayed technical milestones likely prompted Microsoft to halt further investment. While fewer big-budget MMORPGs exist today, especially from Western studios, the industry’s shifting priorities may have sealed the project’s fate.