As part of their mass layoffs earlier this month, Microsoft cancelled an MMORPG that was in the works at The Elder Scrolls Online developers ZeniMax Online Studios. Now, the union that represents a number of devs left in limbo by that game’s canning have issued an update about the process of fighting for their futures.
ZOS’ MMO, codenamed Project Blackbird, wasn’t the only game Microsoft pulled the plug on as they let go of around 9k people. Rare’s Everwild and The Initiative’s Perfect Dark reboot were also wiped out, with the latter studio being shuttered to boot.
“Earlier this month, Microsoft indefinitely shelved an unannounced MMORPG at ZeniMax Online Studios, a shock to the 222 ZOSU-CWA developers working on the project,” wrote ZeniMax Online Studios United (ZOSU), not to be confused with similarly named union ZeniMax Workers United. The former represents web developers, designers, engineers, and graphic artists who were working on ESO and this unannounced MMO, while the latter is focused on QA staff.
“Undoubtedly, a future has been stolen from many of us and our community will never experience an amazing game,” they continued, “However, despite discussions regarding the status of our employment, the fact is: we have not yet been laid off.”
On July 2nd, Microsoft announced they were shelving an unannounced project at ZOS, a shock to over 200 of our devs working on the project. However, despite discussions regarding the status of our employment, the fact is: we have not yet been laid off. Our full statement can be found below.
— ZOS United-CWA (@zosunited.bsky.social) 14 July 2025 at 19:47
The current state of play the union outline is that their “worker-volunteers” are busy bargaining with Microsoft on behalf of those affected members.
“Where Microsoft has failed to support the talented craftspeople who have generated billions in revenue, our union has stepped up to provide clarity and support,” they wrote. “It is true that a layoff may be in the future for some of our members. However, as a result of our organising, we are able to ensure that those impacted will be able to depart with dignity.”
While being able to “depart with dignity” potentially being the best outcome some of these devs can hope for doesn’t sound all that comforting, one can only imagine how much worse a situation these devs might be in without something in place to help fight their case.
We’ve reached out to Microsoft for comment.
Here’s hoping that if any of these devs do end up out of a job, they are able to at least go with favourable exit terms and compensation. It’s the least they’d deserve following, in the union’s words, a situation that’s meant “lives were upended without prior notice or communication from Microsoft leadership”.
