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Former ZeniMax Online Studios head Matt Firor has confirmed that he left the company after Microsoft canceled its shooter, Project Blackbird.

Firor’s departure became public last summer during Microsoft’s large layoffs in 2025. These cuts affected thousands of workers and led to the cancellation of several projects, including the unannounced ZeniMax Online game.

According to earlier reports, Project Blackbird was a third-person online looter-shooter set in a sci-fi world. The project was reportedly well received in internal reviews, making its cancellation a shock to the team.

Now speaking publicly for the first time, Firor said the cancellation directly caused his resignation.

“The most obvious explanation is the correct one,” he wrote on LinkedIn. “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 thanked the Elder Scrolls Online team and its community.

“I cannot express deeply enough my respect and thanks for both the Elder Scrolls Online development team and the players that together comprise the most welcoming, best community in online gaming.

“I have successfully moved from the first group to the second, and now enjoy the game as an anonymous community member, and it is refreshing and fun. Long may both groups prosper!”

Firor said he has not decided on his next career step yet. For now, he is advising projects and startups and investing in others.

“Thanks again for all the well wishes from all of you who have stayed in touch, and I’m sure we’ll be crossing paths at industry conferences and other events at some point,” he wrote. “Hang in there everyone! It’s rough out there. But it will get better.”