Veterans from ZeniMax Online Studios have opened a studio to make games "on their own terms"
A new game studio, Sackbird Studios, has emerged in the United States. It was founded by former developers of The Elder Scrolls Online and the canceled MMORPG codenamed Project Blackbird.
According to Lee Ridout, head of Sackbird Studios, he and his colleagues decided to establish their studio after the cancellation of Project Blackbird and the job cuts at Microsoft in July, which saw 9,000 people lose their jobs. The developers realized they needed a place where creative freedom was prioritized over quarterly targets and investor approval.
Sackbird Studios currently has fewer than 10 employees. At least some of them previously held leadership positions at ZeniMax Online Studios. Specifically, the aforementioned Ridout served as the Director of Monetization.
The studio has already begun developing its debut game, an original project for consoles and PCs. Details are not disclosed yet. Sackbird Studios has stated that they do not intend to "chase trends" and will share more information when the game is ready.