Fallout 5 Takes Priority as Major MMO Blackbird Development Gets Axed

During the Xbox Two podcast, journalist and insider Jez Corden revealed that the development of an MMORPG code-named Blackbird has been cancelled in order to refocus efforts on the upcoming Fallout 5.

ZeniMax Online Studios, known for The Elder Scrolls Online (TESO), had been working on this new project since 2018. However, Microsoft decided to halt this major game to reallocate resources. The funds will now be directed towards enhancing the Fallout franchise, specifically Fallout 5, which has already received the go-ahead. According to Corden, the company aims to minimize risks by concentrating its efforts on a more predictable project.

Corden is uncertain about who will take the lead on Fallout 5’s development. It’s possible that a new studio might be formed or that multiple existing studios under the publisher’s umbrella will collaborate on the game.

It’s worth noting that Bethesda Game Studios, the creators of Fallout 3 and Fallout 4, are currently occupied with expansions for Starfield and the development of The Elder Scrolls VI, which is unlikely to be completed in the near future.

Previously, journalist Jordan Midler shared insights regarding the Fallout franchise’s evolution.