ZeniMax Online Studios, the creators of The Elder Scrolls Online, were working on a new MMORPG codenamed “Project Blackbird.” However, Microsoft shut the project down. Now there are images showing what the game would have looked like.
What kind of game is this? Project Blackbird was supposed to be a new AAA MMORPG aiming to surprise with a sci-fi setting. Initial testers described it as a mix of Destiny 2 and Blade Runner, which was partly due to the third-person perspective and the loot shooter elements. There was also a strong focus on vertical movement.
However, in the wake of the massive layoffs at Microsoft, the project was canceled. Employees reportedly could not log into their work accounts suddenly, even before there was any communication from the HR department.
Unfortunately, the title was never shown to the public. Just now, a short clip has surfaced showing what the game would have looked like.
The new MMORPG from the ESO makers would have truly been sci-fi
What can be seen in the clip? A user shared the leaked video on X.com. It’s only 2 minutes long but gives a good idea of what would have been visible in the MMORPG.
The focus of the video is a vertically built city. Neon signs are everywhere, and people walk around in technically high-quality looking gear. There are individual shops visible, as well as vehicles flying around on tracks.
In the clip, alongside the equipped soldiers, other beings also appear, such as muscular lizard-like creatures or small aliens. The world indeed feels like a mix of Destiny 2 and Blade Runner and also reminds of Coruscant from Star Wars.
Is it real? As doubts about the authenticity of the material arose, industry insider Tom Henderson confirmed on X, regardless of who created the video, that the material shown is real. As Henderson is well connected with developers and publishers, we can well imagine that he speaks the truth, as has often been the case in the past.
What do others say about it? In the comments, users express mixed opinions. One user writes that the advanced mobility was the only thing that intrigued him about the MMORPG. Another even claims that it wouldn’t have looked that good since only a few corridors and NPCs without charisma were shown.
Another fan, however, writes that the design looked good, but he is not sure if everything else would have been a disaster. The mixed opinions stem from the fact that only this clip of the game is visible, and no one knows for sure what else would have been featured in the MMORPG.
Due to the canceled project, the developer can now fully focus on The Elder Scrolls Online. There is again a paid model for 2026, which MeinMMO has taken a closer look at: The paid model of Elder Scrolls Online in 2026: What does the new Battle Pass bring, and what happens to ESO Plus?
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