Matt Firor, the founder and former studio head of ZeniMax Online Studios, has confirmed his resignation from the company in connection with the cancellation of the unannounced MMORPG Project Blackbird. In a LinkedIn post published today, Firor said his departure occurred in July and reflected on the year since the project was canceled. He quoted directly from his message: "Project Blackbird was the game I had waited my entire career to create, and having it canceled led to my resignation. My heart and thoughts are always with the impacted team members, many of whom I had worked 20+ years with, and all of whom were the most dedicated, amazingly talented group of developers in the industry." He also clarified that he is not involved in any of the projects started by former ZeniMax Online staff who were laid off, and that he is advising some of them informally while investing in some small teams; he has not seriously contemplated spinning up a new development studio.
Firor also stated that he is advising some projects and startups unofficially and investing in small teams, but has not yet seriously contemplated launching a new development studio. The LinkedIn post frames his departure as a response to the Blackbird cancellation and notes his ongoing support for colleagues affected by the broader disruption at Microsoft’s game division.
Project Blackbird, a sci-fi MMORPG in development at ZeniMax Online Studios, was canceled by Xbox in the summer of 2025 as part of a broader set of layoffs across Xbox Game Studios and Microsoft-wide operations. Blackbird would have represented a brand-new IP in the science-fiction space and had been in development since 2018. In July, sources speaking to IGN indicated the project was progressing well and on track to move into full production with Xbox’s approval to scale the team. The cancellation of Blackbird led to the layoffs of every member of the project’s team and halted the work on a game that many internal staff had hoped would redefine the studio’s portfolio.
Firor founded ZeniMax Online Studios in 2007 after a decade at Mythic Entertainment, where he helped shepherd The Elder Scrolls Online, which launched in 2014 and remains active with ongoing support and content updates, including the Gold Road expansion released in January 2024. He also led ZeniMax Media through its 2021 acquisition by Microsoft, a watershed moment that reshaped the company’s broader publishing and development strategy. Following the cancellation of Blackbird, ZeniMax Online Studios remains operational and continues to push forward with The Elder Scrolls Online under the leadership of Joseph Burba, a 13-year veteran of the studio who now oversees day-to-day operations.
The decision to discontinue Blackbird reflects Microsoft’s broader strategic recalibrations within Xbox Game Studios, a period that saw several large-scale projects canceled or deprioritized in 2025. Firor’s public comments emphasize a personal sense of responsibility for the team that worked on Blackbird and a willingness to stay involved on an informal basis with other former ZeniMax Online staff who were impacted by the layoffs. The landscape for online-oriented MMORPGs remains competitive, with ESO continuing to draw a player base and receive regular updates while many industry observers await additional clarity on Microsoft’s long-term MMOs roadmap.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to [email protected].
