A few months ago we found out ZeniMax Online Studios had canceled an MMO shooter it was developing under the codename Project Blackbird, one that had been in development since 2018 and executives apparently enjoyed playing. Turns out, even having Phil Spencer like your game can’t save you from Microsoft’s recent slash-and-burn approach to its own projects and staff.
Some of the laid-off developers behind Project Blackbird have now announced the formation of a new studio, cheekily named Sackbird. Get it? “With no outside investors and full creative control, the team is focused on building great games—on their own terms”, as the announcement puts it.
“After years in AAA, we wanted the freedom to take smart risks without waiting for a greenlight or chasing quarterly targets,” said David Worley, Sackbird Studios’ COO. “We’re fully employee-owned and funded, which means we only answer to people who are passionate about games.”
The 10 founding members of Sackbird include developers who were working on Project Blackbird as well as “former leads and key contributors” from The Elder Scrolls Online. As well as being employee-owned and self-funded, they describe the studio’s focus as including “creative control” and “sustainable development”.
“We’re grateful for our time at ZeniMax Online Studios; it shaped us as developers and as people,” said Lee Ridout, Sackbird’s CEO. “When I learned that Blackbird was being cancelled and a lot of people were losing their jobs, it lit a fire. We realized the best way to protect our craft—and our team—was to create a studio where creative independence isn’t negotiable.”
Sackbird Studios isn’t ready to announce a game to go with this manifesto, but is apparently in “active development” on something that will be coming to PC and console. While Project Blackbird was described as a Destiny-style MMO shooter, it’s tough to imagine a smaller team that says it has “No mandate to chase trends” making one of those.
