Microsoft has decided to cancel a new MMO in development by ZeniMax Online Studios, known by the codename Blackbird, amid a wave of cuts at the company. This project, which had been in production since 2018, was in the pre-production phase and it is reported that it was progressing adequately until the Xbox leadership approved its progression to full production.
Xbox canceled a project that was already in full development
According to sources, ZeniMax Online Studios was creating a new game engine for Blackbird, which could have prolonged the development time of the title. Despite this investment, the cancellation has affected “several hundred” developers at the studio, who were laid off following this announcement. This situation has raised concerns in the industry, as it reflects the financial challenges that Microsoft is facing in its gaming division.
The cancellation of Blackbird is part of a series of difficult decisions; Microsoft also confirmed the cancellation of other notable projects such as Everwild and Perfect Dark, although it has not specifically commented on the status of Blackbird. The president of ZeniMax, Matt Firor, announced his departure from the company on the same day these cuts were revealed.
Despite the cancellations, Microsoft has more than 40 games in development, including highly anticipated titles like Gears of War: E-Day and Fable, scheduled to be released in 2026. Additionally, rumors suggest that there could be a return of the Halo franchise to commemorate its 25th anniversary, which keeps the public’s attention on the future of Xbox in the vast universe of video games.
