In early July, Microsoft implemented a new phase of layoffs and project cancellations, which notably included Project Blackbird. This action-RPG MMO, developed by the ZeniMax team behind The Elder Scrolls Online, has now been shed of its veil, revealing intriguing details about its concept and narrative, despite its ultimate cancellation.
An in-depth report has brought to light numerous previously undisclosed facts about Project Blackbird, painting a picture of a game that aimed to fuse elements reminiscent of titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Destiny, and Warframe. Players were slated to inhabit the role of a highly customizable human cyborg, known as a Revenant. The game`s setting was the distant planet Soteria, featuring a sprawling, floating capital megacity named Exodus, which was governed by a sentient artificial intelligence known as PAN. The game world was also designed to include five distinct alien syndicates and a variety of other species from across the galaxy, promising a rich tapestry of interspecies interactions and conflicts.
The central storyline of Project Blackbird was described as having strong noir undertones. PAN would have assigned the player`s character the primary task of investigating and solving the murder of a high-profile figure within the city of Exodus. Beyond this main quest, PAN was also intended to issue various side missions, challenging players to maintain peace and prevent any single alien syndicate from gaining undue dominance. Adding layers to the political landscape, the syndicates themselves would offer their own assignments, allowing players to influence and advance their goals within the intricate power struggles for control over Exodus.
Project Blackbird was conceived as a live-service game, incorporating features such as Player-versus-Player (PvP) combat, shared-world environments for exploration, and cooperative gameplay. However, despite an extensive period of early development that significantly shaped its world and core mechanics, the game never transitioned into full production. Microsoft reportedly made the strategic decision to terminate the in-progress title, opting against allocating the substantial resources required to push it towards its projected 2027 or 2028 release date. It`s worth noting that Project Blackbird was not the sole casualty of Microsoft`s recent restructuring; other prominent titles, including Rare`s Everwild and the planned reboot of Perfect Dark, were also reportedly canceled during the same period of layoffs.