Matt Firor Quit ZeniMax As ‘The Game He Waited His Entire Career to Create’ Was Canceled

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Matt Firor, who led the development of The Elder Scrolls Online for 18 years, left ZeniMax Online Studios in July. Shortly after, information surfaced about Project Blackbird, a massive multiplayer online game ZeniMax had been working on but ultimately decided to cancel, which was planned as the studio’s next major project after ESO.

Blackbird was in development for years, but Microsoft abruptly shut it down in the summer of 2025. This happened alongside layoffs and other cost-cutting measures at the studio.

Matt Firor recently revealed on social media that he left ZeniMax after nearly 20 years because the Blackbird project was cancelled.

Confirming What Many Suspected

Matt Firor recently appeared on social media, exactly six months after leaving ZeniMax Online Studios. His return to public platforms likely coincides with the end of a non-disclosure agreement or privacy restriction related to his departure. He then shared a detailed explanation of why he left the studio, where he had worked for nearly half of his life.

In his words:

Regarding why I left ZOS – the question I get asked most after ‘what do you do now?’ – the simplest answer is the right one.

As a longtime fan of game development, hearing about the cancellation of Project Blackbird was truly heartbreaking, especially knowing it led to the creator leaving. What really struck me, though, was how much they cared about the team – people they’d worked with for over 20 years! They described them as not just dedicated, but the most talented developers around, and it’s awful to think about the impact this has had on such a passionate group.

Firor says he’s still deciding on his next move, but is currently advising other companies and sharing his expertise with startups in a casual, unofficial role.

He shared that he’s been investing in studios he believes will significantly shape the future of the industry, but he doesn’t plan to start his own studio at this time.

Despite positive feedback from Phil Spencer and other Xbox leaders, Project Blackbird was ultimately canceled, suggesting their support wasn’t enough to save it.

Another report suggested that Blackbird would emphasize vertical movement, letting players use a grappling hook and similar tools to climb and run on walls – similar to Spider-Man.

The game would have let players create highly customized characters – essentially, augmented humans – by modifying their bodies with things like implants, cybernetics, and clothing. The story was planned as a blend of the classic humans-versus-AI conflict, anti-capitalist ideas, and a gritty cyberpunk aesthetic.

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2026-01-03 21:48