Matt Firor, the previous studio head and founding father of ZeniMax Online Studios, has confirmed his resignation from the corporate as a direct results of the cancelation of the studio’s unannounced sport, Project Blackbird.
In a LinkedIn post today, Firor mirrored on the final 12 months and confirmed his departure again in July, which had already been rumored after he stepped down from his management position final 12 months. “Project Blackbird was the sport I had waited my whole profession to create, and having it canceled led to my resignation. My coronary heart and ideas are at all times with the impacted workforce members, a lot of whom I had labored 20+ years with, and all of whom have been probably the most devoted, amazingly proficient group of builders within the trade.”
Firor additionally made clear he’s not concerned in any of the initiatives which have been began by former ZeniMax Online members who have been laid off from the corporate round this time. He added that he’s advising a few of them “informally” and confirmed they have been “in good fingers.”
He concluded by stating that whereas he would not know what he’ll do subsequent, he is at the moment each advising some initiatives and startups unofficially, in addition to investing in some small groups. “However I’ve not but severely contemplated spinning up a brand new growth studio.”
Project Blackbird was an unannounced MMORPG that was in growth at ZeniMax Online Studios, however was canceled by Xbox in the summertime of 2025 as part of the layoff of a whole bunch of people at Xbox Recreation Studios, and 1000’s Microsoft-wide. Blackbird would have been a model new, sci-fi IP that had been in growth since 2018. In July, sources chatting with IGN informed us that the venture was going effectively and was about to maneuver into full manufacturing with Xbox’s approval to scale up the workforce. Blackbird’s cancelation led to the layoffs of each member of the workforce.
Firor based ZeniMax Online Studios beneath ZeniMax Media in 2007 after 10 years at Mythic Leisure, the place he was a founding worker. There, he oversaw the creation of The Elder Scrolls Online, which launched in 2014 and continues to be supported, with the newest main growth Gold Highway releasing in January 2024. Firor was additionally in cost when guardian firm ZeniMax Media was acquired by Microsoft in 2021.
Following the cancelation of Blackbird, ZeniMax Online Studios stays in operation, persevering with work on The Elder Scrolls Online beneath the management of Joseph Burba, a 13-year veteran of the studio.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Obtained a narrative tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.