Following a significant wave of layoffs and game cancellations by Microsoft earlier this year—which notably included the MMO Project Blackbird, an ambitious title described as a fusion of Cyberpunk 2077 and Destiny from the creators of The Elder Scrolls Online—the core development team behind Blackbird has re-established itself as an employee-owned venture: Sackbird Studios.
Through an announcement on its official website, Sackbird Studios revealed that it is self-funded for several years, a strategic move designed to secure complete creative independence for their upcoming projects, free from the influence of external investors.
David Worley, Chief Creative Officer at Sackbird Studios, commented on this new direction: “After dedicating years to the AAA gaming sector, our collective desire was for the autonomy to embrace calculated risks without the constraints of seeking constant approval or chasing aggressive quarterly targets. Our status as a fully employee-owned and self-funded studio ensures our accountability lies solely with individuals who share an authentic passion for games.”
Lee Ridout, CEO of Sackbird Studios, expressed profound appreciation for their tenure at ZeniMax Online Studios, acknowledging its formative impact on their professional and personal development. He elaborated, “The news of Blackbird’s cancellation and the subsequent job losses ignited a powerful resolve within us. It became clear that the most effective way to protect our craft—and indeed, our team—was to forge a studio where creative freedom is fundamentally non-negotiable.”
The studio`s announcement indicates that Sackbird currently operates with fewer than ten employees. While specific details about their debut game remain under wraps, they have confirmed it will be an original intellectual property, slated for release on both PC and consoles. Sackbird Studios emphatically reaffirmed its commitment to crafting “bold, character-driven experiences unhampered by corporate compromises.”