A new leak has surfaced in the games industry, revealing the first in-game footage of ZeniMax Online Studios’ canceled project, known as Project Blackbird. The clip was initially shared by insider eXtas1s on X and later confirmed as genuine by industry reporter Tom Henderson. According to Henderson, the footage was created for internal use to showcase lighting technology built on Unreal Engine 4.
It is not yet clear whether Project Blackbird was still using Unreal Engine 4 when development ended, had already shifted to Unreal Engine 5, or was planning an upgrade. The leaked material appears limited in scope and does not provide insight into gameplay systems or overall structure, suggesting it may represent an early or experimental build.
Project Blackbird was a new intellectual property from ZeniMax Online. By November 2022, the title had reportedly been in development for more than four and a half years, with a team of over 200 developers. Despite this, the game remained largely under wraps until Microsoft announced its cancellation in July 2025. The decision came during a wider restructuring at Microsoft Gaming, which also led to the cancellation of Everwild at Rare and the closure of The Initiative, ending work on Perfect Dark.
Further context emerged days later when Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reported that Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer had positive hands-on impressions of the game just months before it was canceled. Schreier also stated that he had viewed gameplay footage and found it promising, aligning with earlier comments from ZeniMax Online’s lead graphics staff about the project’s technical progress.
Reports from TrueAchievements described Project Blackbird as a third-person online shooter. Players would take on the role of Revenants, enhanced operatives working for alien syndicates on Soteria, a tidally locked planet with harsh environments. The story reportedly focused on climbing power structures while uncovering a murder conspiracy.
Following the cancellation, ZeniMax Online founder Matt Firor confirmed his resignation, calling Project Blackbird the game he had waited his career to make. Since then, ZeniMax Online has shifted its focus back to The Elder Scrolls Online, outlining plans for seasonal updates and free content moving forward.
