Project Blackbird got axed and Matt Firor quit — 10 MMOs to play now

Why the Blackbird cancellation matters – and why I care

The abrupt cancellation of ZeniMax Online Studios’ long‑in‑development Project Blackbird in mid‑2025 didn’t just shelve a game – it cost the studio its founder. Matt Firor, who said Blackbird was “the game I’d waited my entire career to create,” resigned after Microsoft pulled the plug. That’s significant: a flagship live‑service MMO with a Destiny‑meets‑Cyberpunk pitch getting quietly cut tells you where the industry is headed, and it leaves players asking where to get the same high‑stakes shooter‑MMO experience now.

• Key Takeaways:
• Blackbird’s cancellation highlights risk aversion at big publishers after consolidation and layoffs.
• MMO fans who wanted six‑player co‑op shooter raids can replicate much of Blackbird’s promise today.
• Expect more talent departures and small indie spin‑offs like Sackbird, but don’t bank on immediate replacements.

Breaking down the fallout

This caught my attention because Matt Firor is not a name you toss around lightly – he founded ZeniMax Online and shepherded The Elder Scrolls Online for years. When the person who built a studio walks away because a project he’d poured his career into was canceled, that’s a red flag. The cuts were part of broader Xbox layoffs that also touched Rare and The Initiative, and they underline a simple truth: big corporate owners are trimming experimental, expensive live‑service bets when ROI looks uncertain.

That said, cancellation doesn’t mean the style of game is dead. Teams and players will migrate. Some staff will go indie (Sackbird is one such example), while others will bolster existing live services. For players, the immediate question is practical: which games actually scratch the Blackbird itch right now?

What this means for gamers

If you were excited for Blackbird’s blend of looter‑shooter loops, third‑person action, and six‑player raid encounters, there are live games that already deliver those highs — some better in parts than others. Short version: don’t wait on console doomscrolls. Jump into titles with active raids, robust endgames, and healthy communities. Below are ten practical alternatives ranked by how well they match Blackbird’s reported design goals and how easy they are to jump into in 2026.

Top 10 actionable alternatives for Blackbird fans

• Destiny 2 (Bungie) — PC/Xbox/PlayStation: The closest live example of six‑player shooter raids and looter loops. Free‑to‑play base, active seasonal content, and the most polished co‑op boss encounters you’ll find.
• The Division 2 (Massive) — PC/Xbox/PlayStation: Third‑person cover shooter with raid‑scale challenges and strong loot pathways. If you want tactical, urban firefights with robust progression, this is it.
• The Elder Scrolls Online (ZeniMax) — PC/Xbox/PlayStation: From Firor’s team; it’s an open‑world MMO with huge group trials and long‑term support. Less shooter, more MMO depth — still a natural fallback.
• Warframe (Digital Extremes) — PC/Xbox/PlayStation/Switch: Fast, free, and constantly adding new PvE modes. It nails adrenaline‑heavy co‑op combat and has the most forgiving entry curve of the bunch.
• Lost Ark (Smilegate/Amazon) — PC: Isometric ARPG‑MMO with massive raids and tight group choreography. It’s more action RPG than shooter but hits the looter‑raid sweet spot.
• Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix) — PC/PlayStation: Not a shooter, but if you’re chasing the emotional weight of raid design and community, its 8‑player content remains peerless.
• New World: Aeternum (Amazon) — PC/Console: Open‑world extraction and large group expeditions. Its PvP focus and resource risk amplify the stakes Blackbird hinted at.
• Black Desert Online (Pearl Abyss) — PC/Console: Action MMO with tight third‑person combat and guild warfare — great if you want mechanical depth and spectacle.
• Path of Exile 2 (Grinding Gear) — PC/Consoles): ARPG with league systems and intense boss mechanics. Grindy, but excellent for players who like buildcraft and hard fights.
• Throne and Liberty (NCSoft) — PC/Consoles: Large‑scale PvP and morphing combat systems. It scratches the “big battlefield” itch if Blackbird’s ambition included warlike multiplayer.

These picks are practical: they’re live, supported, and have communities you can join today. Some deliver shooter mechanics more faithfully (Destiny 2, The Division 2); others give you the MMO backbone Blackbird promised (ESO, FFXIV). Pick by what you value most — tight gunplay, raid spectacle, or long‑term social systems.

TL;DR

Microsoft killing Project Blackbird and Matt Firor’s exit is a gut punch for MMO ambition, but it doesn’t leave players stranded. Want that shooter‑raid rush? Start with Destiny 2 or The Division 2. Want MMO longevity and community? Jump into ESO or FFXIV. And keep an eye on studios spun out of these layoffs — some of the best, riskier ideas often bloom outside corporate safety nets.