Matt Firor, the head of ZeniMax Online Studios, is set to leave the company following an 18-year tenure

Zenimax Online Studios' long-time studio president, Matt Firor, has announced his impending departure following news of the studio's MMO project cancellation amid significant layoffs at Microsoft. This decision comes after the announcement of closing certain Bethesda studios.

Sharing his reflections via Zenimax's X account, Firor expressed confidence in the team's future with Jo Burba as studio head, alongside executive producer Susan Kath and game director Rich Lambert. He reassured fans that he would continue to support the game as a player, despite not being involved in its development anymore.

Firor spearheaded Zenimax Online Studios since its inception in 2007, overseeing the launch of The Elder Scrolls Online in 2014. He noted that there remain numerous stories and adventures ahead for the community that supports the game.

As reported by Bloomberg, the planned MMORPG known by its codename 'Blackbird', which had been under development since 2018, has been scrapped. Consequently, numerous developers have taken to social media to announce their employment searches post-layoffs.

The cancellation allegedly came as a surprise to employees, even as the project's pre-production seemed promising, with plans to transition into full production, according to sources cited by IGN. This included personnel being transitioned onto the project from other organizations, such as the recently shuttered Arkane Austin.

Firor's parting message emphasized the enduring legacy of The Elder Scrolls Online, still achieving success with an impressive $2 billion lifetime earnings, as shared last year in an interview celebrating the game's decade-long run.