Sackbird Studios Rises After Xbox Cutbacks

Veterans from ZeniMax Online Unite for a New Venture

Following Microsoft's and Xbox's recent announcement of mass layoffs, projected to affect thousands of employees, the video game industry has seen significant upheavals. Numerous studios faced cuts or were forced to close, leading to the halt of many anticipated gaming projects. However, some innovative developers are transforming this setback into a fresh beginning.

A collective of former developers from ZeniMax Online Studios, who were pivotal in the creation of The Elder Scrolls Online and the canceled looter shooter project Blackbird, have joined forces to create a new enterprise named Sackbird Studios. Adopting an employee-owned and self-financed business model, it comes as no surprise that the team is keen on possessing complete creative autonomy, as their announcement highlights: 'Free from external investors, our goal is to craft exceptional games on our own conditions.'

The initial group comprises fewer than ten members, including the Chief Executive Officer Lee Ridout and the Chief Operating Officer David Worley. While the team has already embarked on developing their inaugural game, they remain tight-lipped regarding specific details, only revealing that it will be accessible on both PC and console platforms.