MinnMax Interview - The Devastating Cancellation Of Elder Scrolls Online’s Successor (Patreon)

MinnMax's Ben Hanson interviews the founder of ZeniMax Online Studios Matt Firor about his incredible journey through the game industry and what it was like starting the studio that launched The Elder Scrolls Online. Firor spent years building up the studio's next ambitious project (a sci-fi new IP codenamed "Project Blackbird") before it was cancelled by Microsoft in 2025 resulting in layoffs and Firor exiting the studio. After 18 years working at ZeniMax Online Studios and working very closely with Todd Howard and Bethesda, there's a lot to learn from Matt Firor so we hope you enjoy the discussion!

Watch and share the video version here - https://youtu.be/42I1imOrcfg

Leaked Project Blackbird footage - https://www.reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumours/comments/1qgjbbw/new_leaked_footage_from_project_blackbird_a/

To jump to a particular discussion, check out the timestamps below...

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:38 - Matt Firor on life after ZeniMax Online

00:04:11 - Designing online games in the 1980s

00:07:23 - New lessons about the game industry

00:09:57 - Why he's still playing The Elder Scrolls Online

00:15:04 - Biggest misconceptiosn about The Elder Scrolls Online

00:16:15 - Robert Altman and the intense/scary launch of The Elder Scrolls Online

00:24:42 - The size of The Elder Scrolls Online's development team

00:28:19 - Tech debt with MMOs and Project Blackbird

00:32:07 - How it feels to have your dream project cancelled

00:34:45 - Thoughts on Xbox and ZeniMax

00:36:15 - The cancellation of Project Blackbird

00:38:18 - Thoughts on Pete Hines' departure from Bethesda

00:39:49 - Xbox closing Tange and Arkane Austin

00:40:48 - Mythic, Aliens Online, and Silent Death Online

00:45:11 - The original Fallout Online

00:47:32 - MMO design around 2007

00:50:32 - How Skyrim influenced The Elder Scrolls Online

00:53:28 - Thoughts on Crimson Desert's MMO flavor

00:56:53 - Consulting and Matt's future