[UPDATE] ZeniMax Online Studios’ official social media account confirmed that Matt Firor, founding studio lead, is departing the organization. Jo Burba, formerly Live Service Director, will assume leadership, while Susan Kath (Executive Producer) and Rich Lambert (Game Director) retain their positions.

[ORIGINAL STORY] Microsoft’s recent restructuring has now claimed ZeniMax Online’s unannounced second MMORPG, codenamed ‘Blackbird.’ Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reported the cancellation via BlueSky, marking another casualty in the gaming giant’s workforce reduction.

Best known for The Elder Scrolls Online, ZeniMax Online had divided resources to establish a parallel development group since at least 2022. At its peak, this secondary team reportedly exceeded 200 members working on the scrapped title. While ESO continues receiving updates, the studio’s new venture aimed to pioneer fresh intellectual property over nearly five years of pre-production.

Creative Director Ben Jones previously described the undertaking during development: “This was an expansive project requiring substantial investment. Building a new IP meant establishing foundational lore and narrative frameworks from scratch. Our core team, including specialists in worldbuilding and storytelling, continually refined the central narrative through multiple iterations.”

Following the cancellation, Jones shared on LinkedIn that Blackbird represented his “most innovative project” to date. His portfolio includes contributions to Battlefield 4 expansions, H1Z1: Just Survive, and experimental titles like Into the Stars.

Additional reports from Windows Central indicate the game’s fantasy setting planned branching dialogue systems akin to BioWare’s RPGs, positioning it as ZeniMax Online’s future flagship as ESO support gradually diminished. With Blackbird shelved, the studio now refocuses entirely on its existing MMO. Sources also suggest potential impacts on Perfect Dark’s development, though details remain unverified.