The Latest Breaking News from ZeniMax Online Studios

The Elder Scrolls Online is finally getting cross-play for Xbox, PC, and PlayStation — but don’t expect it to arrive soon

ZeniMax Online Studios is hard at work on cross-play for The Elder Scrolls Online, but it won't be coming soon.

Windows Central · Jan 7

Former Elder Scrolls Online chief confirms Microsoft's 2025 bloodbath drove his departure from ZeniMax: 'Project Blackbird was the game I had waited my entire career to create'

Matt Firor announced his split from ZeniMax Online Studios the same day Microsoft laid off roughly 9,000 employees and cancelled multiple game projects.

PC Gamer · Jan 2

Laid-off devs of cancelled ZeniMax MMO Project Blackbird form new studio 'with no outside investors and full creative control,' and they're calling it Sackbird

"When I learned that Blackbird was being cancelled and a lot of people were losing their jobs, it lit a fire."

PC Gamer · Oct 8, 2025

"A future has been stolen from many of us" — ZeniMax Online Studios devs will reportedly soon be hit by Microsoft's Xbox layoffs after the MMO Phil Spencer loved was cancelled

A new report suggests that "almost all" the ZeniMax Online Studios devs that worked on its cancelled Blackbird MMO "are losing their jobs" following the Microsoft and Xbox layoffs.

Windows Central · Jul 15, 2025

'A future has been stolen from many of us and our community will never experience an amazing game': Microsoft MMO devs respond to cancelation of project Phil Spencer reportedly loved

The cancellation of ZeniMax Online Studios' new game happened earlier this month as part of Microsoft's latest round of mass layoffs.

PC Gamer · Jul 14, 2025

"A future has been stolen": ZeniMax union says "lives were upended" by Xbox layoffs and MMO cancelation, but "we have not yet been laid off"

"For most of us something like a layoff is inevitable"

GamesRadar · Jul 14, 2025

Xbox layoffs and game cuts wreak havoc on talented developers and the company's future portfolio — Weekend discussion 💬

It's unfortunate, but the Microsoft and Xbox layoffs, cuts, and cancellations have dominated the week's news cycle. But we want to hear your opinions.

Windows Central · Jul 5, 2025

Xbox CEO Phil Spencer reportedly couldn't stop playing ZeniMax's unannounced game — and now it's canceled

A report from Bloomberg indicates that Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer enjoyed playing ZeniMax Online Studios' new MMORPG months before it was canceled.

Windows Central · Jul 3, 2025

Blizzard ends new content development for Warcraft Rumble and lays off staff: Former employee says 'most' of the team has been let go

Warcraft Rumble will continue to operate with in-game events and bug fixes, but further development is over.

PC Gamer · Jul 2, 2025

The Elder Scrolls Online director Matt Firor, who helped launch ZeniMax Online Studios in 2007, is leaving the company

Word of Firor's surprise departure came just hours after Microsoft announced the layoff of 9,000 employees.

PC Gamer · Jul 2, 2025