<ul data-eligibleForWebStory="false"><li>Microsoft's layoffs in its games division resulted in the cancellation of Project Blackbird, a new MMORPG from Zenimax Online Studios that was in development for seven years.</li><li>Project Blackbird was described by insiders as a blend of Destiny, Blade Runner, and Horizon Zero Dawn, featuring players as Revenants aligned with alien factions exploring the planet of Soteria.</li><li>The game offered open-world exploration, a major city called Exodus, four-player missions, a narrative involving a high-profile NPC murder, crafting, gathering, traversal mechanics, player housing, PvP, and a focus on co-op PvE gameplay.</li><li>Insiders and testers praised Blackbird as 'fucking incredible,' with Microsoft CEO Phil Spencer having to have the controller taken away during a meeting discussing the game. The layoffs and cancellation have sparked frustration among unions within Microsoft.</li></ul>

Insiders detail gameplay for Blackbird, the ‘f’ing incredible’ Zenimax MMO that Microsoft killed off

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