ZeniMax Online’s New MMORPG ‘Blackbird’ Canceled After 7 Years of Development

In a shocking turn of events, ZeniMax Online’s highly anticipated second MMORPG, codenamed ‘Blackbird,’ has been canceled after seven years of development. This news comes amid massive layoffs at Microsoft, which owns the developer behind the successful MMORPG Elder Scrolls Online. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier confirmed the cancellation, adding further details that Blackbird’s scope had been immense, with over 200 developers involved in its creation.

The project aimed to deliver a fresh new IP, and its cancellation has raised eyebrows among fans and industry insiders alike.

The game, which had been under development for several years, was set in a fantasy world with dialogue options resembling those seen in Star Wars: The Old Republic and Elder Scrolls Online. ZeniMax Online had hoped to pivot focus away from Elder Scrolls Online as that game’s lifecycle naturally wound down. Unfortunately, the cancellation now brings their attention back to ESO, which continues to receive major updates.

The project had been spearheaded by Creative Director Ben Jones, who previously worked on games like Day of Defeat and H1Z1: Just Survive. Jones described Project Blackbird as the most exciting and ambitious project he had worked on. He also highlighted the challenges of building a new world from scratch, iterating on ideas and storylines over several years as the team tried to bring the vision to life.

As for the future, this cancellation has sparked concerns about the direction of Microsoft’s gaming division, especially as other titles like Perfect Dark and Fable have faced setbacks. Some have speculated that Microsoft’s focus is shifting toward its core franchises, which include Halo, Diablo, and Call of Duty, potentially sidelining smaller but innovative titles like Perfect Dark and Hi-Fi Rush. With rumors of more closures and layoffs, the future of Xbox’s portfolio seems uncertain.

While some fans are disappointed, others believe the shift towards AAA titles is inevitable, especially as services like Game Pass thrive on larger, more established franchises. However, the absence of unique, smaller-scale games could leave a void that smaller studios might need to fill.