Former ZeniMax Online devs form Sackbird Studios

A group of former ZeniMax Online developers have announced the formation of Sackbird Studios.

The independent, self-funded, and employee-owned studio consists of under ten people who worked on Elder Scrolls Online, as well as the long-in-development MMO codenamed Project Blackbird.

While Sackbird Studios is not announcing its first title yet, it has confirmed to be in “active development” on an “original project” for PC and console.

“We’re grateful for our time at ZeniMax Online Studios; it shaped us as developers and as people,” said CEO Lee Ridout. “When I learned that Blackbird was being cancelled and a lot of people were losing their jobs, it lit a fire.

“We realized the best way to protect our craft – and our team – was to create a studio where creative independence isn’t negotiable.”

COO David Worley added: “After years in AAA, we wanted the freedom to take smart risks without waiting for a greenlight or chasing quarterly targets.

“We’re fully employee-owned and funded, which means we only answer to people who are passionate about games.”

Earlier this year, Microsoft conducted mass layoffs across its games division, affecting over 9,000 employees.

This included developers at ZeniMax Online Studios, as well as the closure of The Initiative and the cancellation of its Perfect Dark reboot. Rare’s Everwild was also scrapped, while half of Forza Motorsport’s developer Turn 10 was cut.