Devs fired from scrapped Project Blackbird game launch ‘Sackbird’ studio

https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/devs-fired-from-scrapped-project-blackbird-game-launch-sackbird-studio-3264595/

Jessica Filby Oct 09, 2025 · 2 mins read
Devs fired from scrapped Project Blackbird game launch ‘Sackbird’ studio
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There’s a certain kind of humor that comes with being laid off, and the team behind a new studio called Sackbird has nailed it.

Sackbird, a brand new games studio, was formed by a group of developers who were laid off after the ZeniMax Online Studios’ unannounced MMO project known internally as Project Blackbird was canceled back in June 2025.

Given they were all working on Blackbird and then got sacked, you can probably see where the irony comes in the new name.

New studio created following Project Blackbird’s cancellation

Project Blackbird was an ambitious online game from some of the same minds behind The Elder Scrolls Online. But earlier this year, the project was scrapped during a wave of layoffs across ZeniMax’s teams. Rather than scatter, many of those affected chose to regroup.

Today, that same group has officially announced Sackbird Studios, an independent, employee-owned studio that’s already self-funded for multiple years.

The team wrote: “Today, a group of veteran developers behind Elder Scrolls Online and the canceled Project Blackbird announced the formation of Sackbird Studios, an independent, employee-owned game studio that is self-funded for multiple years. With no outside investors and full creative control, the team is focused on building great games – on their own terms.”

“After years in AAA, we wanted the freedom to take smart risks without waiting for a greenlight or chasing quarterly targets,” said David Worley, COO at Sackbird Studios. “We’re fully employee-owned and funded, which means we only answer to people who are passionate about games.”

Sackbird hasn’t revealed its first project yet, but the studio confirmed it’s in “active development on an original project for PC and consoles.” While details are scarce, it’s unlikely to resemble the canceled MMO that indirectly brought the team together.

For now, Sackbird’s message is clear: they’ve moved on, and they’re flying on their own this time.