ZeniMax Online Studios
ZeniMax Online Studios business and news from across the web.- The indie team that spun out of Project Blackbird just announced friendslop game Hijinks HighIndie studio Sackbird, formed by former ZeniMax Online Studios developers who were laid off after the cancellation of Project Blackbird, has announced its first game, Hijinks High. This multiplayer party game tasks players with causing as much mayhem as possible in a school setting before the final bell rings, with an extraction element involving escaping faculty.
- Elder Scrolls Online’s Vengeance PvP campaign is finally launching with next week’s update 50ZeniMax Online Studios is launching the Vengeance Player vs Player campaign permanently into The Elder Scrolls Online with Update 50 on June 8. This mode features massive battles with up to 900 players, modified abilities, and unique perks, with campaigns lasting 30 days. Players level 10 and above can access the campaign through the Alliance War menu.
FORMER ELDER SCROLLS ONLINE DEVELOPERS REVEAL DEBUT TITLE HIJINKS HIGHSackbird Studios, founded by former The Elder Scrolls Online developers, has revealed its debut title, Hijinks High. This chaotic first-person multiplayer party game is set to launch on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. Players can team up with up to five friends to cause mayhem and pull pranks in a school setting before the final bell rings.- Elder Scrolls Online previews the long-awaited challenge difficulty options coming in June’s Update 50ZeniMax Online Studios is introducing a new challenge difficulty system in The Elder Scrolls Online's upcoming Update 50, launching June 8th. This system, highly requested by players, will allow them to increase the difficulty of overland content, quest instances, delves, and public dungeons for greater rewards, with tiers ranging from 'adventurer' to 'vestige'.
"People want MMOs, and the sales of New World proved it" – Cryptic Studios head Jack Emmert on why MMOs are ripe for reinventionCryptic Studios CEO Jack Emmert believes the MMORPG market is still strong, citing the sales of New World as proof, despite recent cancellations. He argues that successful MMOs should focus on a distinct vision and niche audience rather than trying to appeal to everyone, which often leads to diluted experiences. Emmert also emphasizes the importance of rapid prototyping and controlled scope for long-term success in the genre.- Elder Scrolls Online previews U50’s Veterancy system and S1’s High Seas of Tamriel boat contentZeniMax Online Studios is previewing upcoming content for The Elder Scrolls Online, including the Veterancy system for PvP players in Update 50 and the High Seas of Tamriel event for Season One. The Veterancy system offers a new progression track with rewards for PvP activities, while the High Seas of Tamriel will introduce naval combat, fishing, and treasure hunting on boats.
- Elder Scrolls Online details the class mastery system launching with U50 in JuneZeniMax Online Studios has detailed the upcoming class mastery system for The Elder Scrolls Online, launching with Update 50 on June 8th. This new system introduces a passive skill line for each of the game's seven classes, offering five unique abilities per class to further enhance player builds and reward specialization.
- Elder Scrolls Online teases U50’s Golden Pursuit-esque newbie onboarding path and guild mail systemZeniMax Online Studios is preparing to launch update 50 for The Elder Scrolls Online on June 8th, introducing a new 'Path to Adventure' system designed to help new players acclimate to the game. This update also includes a new guild mail system and other quality-of-life improvements.
Double Fine Productions is the latest Microsoft subsidiary to unioniseDouble Fine Productions, the developer of Psychonauts, has filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize with the support of the Communications Workers of America. This move follows a trend of unionization among Microsoft subsidiaries, with the company agreeing to a neutral approach. The proposed union includes 42 employees who aim to preserve the studio's commitments to creative excellence and worker quality of life.
Double Fine is the latest team at Microsoft to unionizeDouble Fine, the studio behind Psychonauts, has filed a petition to unionize with the National Labor Relations Board, with all 42 employees participating. The studio is organizing with the Communications Workers of America, a union that has previously supported labor efforts at other Microsoft-owned studios like Activision and ZeniMax.- MMO Week in Review: Guild Wars in your pocketArenaNet announced a mobile port of Guild Wars Reforged with cross-progression, coinciding with the game's 21st anniversary. This week also saw Final Fantasy XIV patch 7.5, Pearl Abyss selling EVE Online studio CCP Games to its management, and Star Wars The Old Republic revealing the planet Ryloth for its 8.0 update.
Former Elder Scrolls Online boss was told in 2001 that 'There's already enough MMOs out there, no one is ever…ZeniMax Online Studios founder Matt Firor discussed the cancellation of Project Blackbird and the current state of the games industry in a recent interview. He drew parallels between today's economic climate and E3 2001, when publishers were skeptical about new MMOs entering the market.
Former Elder Scrolls Online boss describes Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin closing as a turning point at Xbox: 'I…Matt Firor, founder of ZeniMax Online Studios, described the closures of Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin as a significant turning point for Xbox, leading developers to fear further layoffs. Firor, who also experienced the cancellation of his game Project Blackbird, views these events as part of a larger industry-wide trend of boom and bust cycles, a sentiment echoed by industry veteran Brenda Romero.
Elder Scrolls Online vet hates when people call the MMO a "WoW clone" since "you're not going to have fun at all" if you play it like Blizzard's gameFormer The Elder Scrolls Online director Matt Firor expressed frustration with comparisons of ESO to World of Warcraft, stating that approaching the game like a 'WoW clone' leads to a poor experience. Firor emphasized that while both are MMORPGs, ESO's systems are fundamentally different from WoW's, and players should engage with it as an Elder Scrolls title to enjoy its strengths, particularly its story.- Matt Firor laments Project Blackbird’s cancellation as ‘a number on a ledger’ to MicrosoftFormer ZeniMax Online Studios president Matt Firor expressed his disappointment over Microsoft's cancellation of the MMO Project Blackbird, describing the decision as purely financial. He believes the game's cancellation was a loss for the entertainment industry, highlighting the cyclical nature of game development revenues for publicly traded companies.
"A single-player MMO is almost like cheating": Crimson Desert is "awesome," former Elder Scrolls Online director says, even if "I don't know what the hell I'm doing"Former Elder Scrolls Online director Matt Firor praised Crimson Desert as "awesome," noting that its single-player MMO design feels like "cheating." He highlighted the game's lack of hand-holding, comparing its exploration to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and expressed his enjoyment despite not fully understanding all its mechanics after dozens of hours.
'Why didn't anyone think of this before?': Former Elder Scrolls Online boss loves Crimson Desert, but making 'a singleplayer MMO is almost like cheating' to himFormer Elder Scrolls Online director Matt Firor expressed his admiration for Crimson Desert, noting that its singleplayer design feels like 'cheating' compared to traditional MMOs. Firor, who left ZeniMax Online Studios after the cancellation of Blackbird, is now focused on Crimson Desert, which evolved from an MMO prequel to Black Desert Online into a singleplayer experience.- Elder Scrolls Online’s Night Market limited time event is live today through June 17The Elder Scrolls Online has launched its first event zone, the Night Market, which is available until June 17. Players can explore Fargrave, join one of three factions, complete tasks, and tackle a 12-person trial for rewards including the Night's Den home. This event also coincides with the Golden Pursuits campaign, offering additional rewards for player activities.
“We’re a number on a ledger" - ex-Elder Scrolls Online studio head says Microsoft cancelling Project Blackbird was a "missed opportunity"Former ZeniMax Online Studios head Matt Firor described Microsoft's cancellation of the unannounced MMO Project Blackbird as a "missed opportunity" for all parties involved. Firor, who resigned after the project's canning, explained that while he understood the business reasoning behind the decision, it was a "devastating blow" to the team who had invested heavily in building a new engine for the game.- Elder Scrolls Online details the circus of freaks (affectionate) you’ll be working for in the Night MarketThe Elder Scrolls Online is introducing its new seasonal feature, the Night Market, which will allow players to choose between three distinct factions: the Glittering Goad, the Thousand Eyes, and the Ruckus. Each faction offers a different approach to exploring the zone and progressing through quests, with player choices impacting loot acquisition and overall event outcomes. The Night Market event will run from April 28th to June 17th.