After the reported cancellation of the long-in-development Project Blackbird, Zenimax Online President Matt Firor is stepping down from the studio.
Here is the text from the image:
After more than 18 years leading ZeniMax Online Studios, I’ll be stepping away later this month. The studio and The Elder Scrolls Online will be in great hands under the direction of new Studio Head, Jo Burba along with Executive Producer, Susan Kath and Game Director, Rich Lambert.
Together, this leadership team has spearheaded many of ESO’s biggest ideas and expansions and will continue to make this game something we’re all proud of. While I won’t be working on the game anymore, I will be cheering you on and adding to the thousands of hours I’ve already spent in-game. There are many more stories to be told, adventures to be had, and I know this amazing community will carry that shared legacy and success forwards.
Thank you.
From Matt.
This news comes alongside the reporting cancelation of Project Blackbird, the next game planned for the studio:
In a day full of terrible news, the latest comes from Jason Schreier, who has reported that the long-in-development ‘Project Blackbird’ at Zenimax Online Studio (ZOS) has been canceled. In a skeet today, Mr. Schreier said:
This is the latest in a day full of bad news, including over 9000 job layoffs at Microsoft and the reported cancellation of Everwild at Rare:
Further to the reporting from both Tom Warren over at The Verge and Jason Schrier over at Bloomberg regarding planned layoffs at Microsoft, it is now (sadly) official. Beyond the broader Microsoft business, the layoffs are also affecting multiple Xbox Game Studios, including within both Zenimax and ActivisionBlizzard.
In a new report from Jason Schrier at Bloomberg, new details are starting to emerge. Per the report, King, the mobile division that creates and publishes Candy Crush is apparently cutting 10% of its staff, equalling approximately 200 roles.
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has shared an email to staff. Though it was shared to us independently, it’s also been posted via Windows Central and Insider Gaming. It reads as follows:
“Today we are sharing decisions that will impact colleagues across our organization. To position Gaming for enduring success and allow us to focus on strategic growth areas, we will end or decrease work in certain areas of the business and follow Microsoft’s lead in removing layers of management to increase agility and effectiveness. Out of respect for those impacted today, the specifics of today’s notifications and any organizational shifts will be shared by your team leaders in the coming days.
