Former The Elder Scrolls Online and Project Blackbird developers establish Sackbird Studios

Sackbird Studios, a Baltimore-based studio made up of staff behind The Elder Scrolls Online and the canceled Project Blackbird, has announced its establishment. It is currently developing an original project for consoles and PC, which it will share more information on “when the game is ready.”

The founding team consists of former leads and key contributors on The Elder Scrolls Online, and core developers from Project Blackbird. The studio itself is described as a “developer-first environment with a long runway and a tight, senior team,” currently under 10 people.

“After years in AAA, we wanted the freedom to take smart risks without waiting for a greenlight or chasing quarterly targets,” said Sackbird Studios chief operating officer David Worley in a press release. “We’re fully employee-owned and funded, which means we only answer to people who are passionate about games.”

Sackbird Studios CEO Lee Ridout added, “We’re grateful for our time at ZeniMax Online Studios; it shaped us as developers and as people. 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.”

Visit the official website here.