New details about the cancelled ZeniMax MMO, Blackbird, have surfaced online after Xbox’s layoffs, including narrative details, gameplay systems and more.
Blackbird was going to be ZeniMax’s next big MMORPG after Elder Scrolls Online; however, it was cancelled before we could learn more about the game. A recent report has also revealed that it had received praise from Xbox executives and Phil Spencer ahead of the cancellation. New details about Blackbird’s open-world, lore, narrative, and more have surfaced online.
ZeniMax MMO had a Huge Open World With Alien Syndicates Ruling Over it
A new report by TrueAchievements has revealed details about ZeniMax’s plans for the Blackbird MMO. The now-cancelled game drew inspiration from titles such as Blade Runner, Destiny, and Horizon Zero Dawn. Players would get to explore a vast open world set on a planet called Soteria, specifically focusing on a region known as Exodus. In this city, the systems are controlled by a sentient AI named PAN, but five alien syndicates have taken control of the population.
Players take on the role of a human Revenant, acting as a neutral force to maintain balance. The game featured five alien species: Menst, Calpiten, Nemocytes, W’Hurran, and Trahet. The syndicates function similarly to those in previous Bethesda RPGs. The Menst were an ancient race of arrogant aliens, while the Calpiten were known for their manipulation skills. The Nemocytes were an aquatic species that required exosuits to navigate the open world. The W’Hurran were a furry alien species recognised as masters of business. Lastly, the Trahet were renowned for their ability to extract secrets.
Similar to the missions players encounter in games like Destiny and Warframe, Blackbird MMO would send them out on missions to various areas, which included activities for up to four players. It also included Strike Missions, where up to six players could party up.
Blackbird MMO Narrative Details
In the universe of Blackbird, humans are at the bottom of the food chain. However, some augmented humans have ascended to become Revenants. These individuals began working for the AI known as PAN to restore balance on the planet. As a result, they earned the admiration of other humans while instilling fear in alien syndicates. The plot revolved around the murder of a high-ranking official from a syndicate, which sparked investigations and missions involving powerful killers and secret leaders.
ZeniMax MMO Gameplay Details
Traversal was going to be one of the big focuses of the Blackbird MMO, with the developers focusing on vertical gameplay. The players would have been equipped with a grappling hook and other tools that would allow them to “climb and wall-run on any surface”. This traversal system aimed to feel intuitive and natural, akin to web-swinging in Marvel’s Spider-Man games or driving in Grand Theft Auto games.
As augmented humans, Revenants had to choose between three archetypes: tanks, tech operators, and healers. The game would feature a deep character customisation system, similar to Elder Scrolls Online, allowing players to sculpt their bodies, add scars and tattoos, change skins, incorporate biomodifications, cybernetics, suit layers, and customise weapons and apartments.
The developers were also working on a skill system with “a full progression path and skill tree”. Details about combat were scarce as well, but we do know that there are multiple weapon types, upgrades, and more. The developers also considered using the traversal system in a non-combative manner for new multiplayer experiences, such as races and obstacle courses. A Quidditch-Basketball type mode was also mentioned, where players could dunk a ball in the ring, pass and shoot it too.
In other news, Rare’s Everwild and The Initiative’s Perfect Dark were also cancelled during Xbox’s latest round of layoffs. What are your thoughts on the new details about the cancelled ZeniMax MMO? Let us know through the official Insider Gaming forums discussion.
For more information from Insider Gaming, read about Hideo Kojima’s OD being reportedly unaffected by the recent Xbox layoffs. Don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter.
They needed to cover for all the other flops Bethesda makes Redfall, Starfield, Deathloop, Indiana Jones, all those. Then add Obsidian and Xbox’s.