Microsoft has confirmed the cancellation of a new MMO that was in development at ZeniMax Online Studios as part of widespread layoffs affecting thousands of employees across the tech giant.

The unannounced game, codenamed Blackbird, was reportedly under development since 2018. While there has been no official announcement regarding the cancellation, multiple ZeniMax employees have indicated its accuracy on social media.

Lead engineer Aaron Barnett shared his status, saying he’s ‘open to work’, while senior character artist Eric Hall lamented that the project he had dedicated over five years to had come to an end. Senior producer Chris Linn also mentioned the untimely cancellation.

Many employees have raised concerns about the layoff process. Principal economy designer John Hartzell expressed surprise at being laid off through a sudden deactivation of his corporate chat account, indicating a chaotic environment amidst the layoffs.

In light of these developments, it is still unclear how many staff members at ZeniMax and other Microsoft divisions will face job losses, but indications suggest the entire development team behind the new MMO was affected.

Microsoft earlier disclosed that it is laying off approximately 9,000 employees, many from its gaming division, yet Xbox head Phil Spencer assured in communication with staff that the platform and game roadmap are thriving, even stating they have ’never looked stronger’ despite the layoffs.