Earlier this year, Microsoft unleashed a massive wave of layoffs and game cancellations, including Project Blackbird, an MMO that was described as a cross between Cyberpunk 2077 and Destiny from the team behind The Elder Scrolls Online. Now, that team has reunited to form an employee-owned studio, Sackbird Studios.
The studio shared the announcement on its official site, and noted that Sackbird is self-funded “for multiple years” without the aid of outside investors. That will allow the team to retain full creative control of their own games.
“After years in AAA, we wanted the freedom to take smart risks without waiting for a greenlight or chasing quarterly targets, said Sackbird Studios chief creative officer David Worley in a statement. “We’re fully employee-owned and funded, which means we only answer to people who are passionate about games.”
“We’re grateful for our time at ZeniMax Online Studios; it shaped us as developers and as people,” added Sackbird CEO Lee Ridout. “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.”
The announcement notes that there are under ten current employees in the studio. Sackbird isn’t ready to disclose its first game yet beyond sharing that it will be an original project, which will be available on PC and consoles. The studio also reaffirmed the team’s desire to craft “bold, character-driven experiences free from corporate compromises.”
