Fallout 5 Is the Reason ZeniMax’s MMORPG Blackbird Was Canceled

Fallout 5 is reportedly the reason ZeniMax Online Studios canceled its latest MMORPG, code-named Blackbird, according to a new report from a well-known Microsoft insider. While this isn’t the first time that this particular source has made this claim, they have now doubled down on it with some additional details on how exactly the fifth mainline Fallout game impacted ZeniMax’s recent plans.

The rumor comes from Jez Corden, who has a years-long track record of Microsoft-related scoops. During a mid-July 2025 episode of the Xbox Two Podcast, Corden reported that Bethesda had recently “fully greenlit” Fallout 5, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. The insider added that this turn of events also led to the cancellation of Project Blackbird, an unannounced MMORPG in development at Bethesda sister company ZeniMax Online Studios.

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Four days later, a July 18 episode of the Xbox Two Podcast saw Corden double down on the claim that Fallout 5 had been greenlit and caused the Blackbird cancellation. He characterized his initial statement as an unverified rumor, which is why he chose to mention it on a podcast rather than in a formal report. He now believes he has the necessary confirmation, reportedly stemming from a recent “all-hands meeting” at Microsoft.

Fallout 5 Reportedly Isn’t the Only Reason Blackbird Was Canceled

During the purported gathering, one of the employees directly inquired about the reasons for Blackbird‘s cancellation with Microsoft leadership, Corden reports. The response allegedly described the decision as part of a broader effort to “make strategic bets in other areas.” While Fallout 5 was not mentioned by name, the timing of the meeting has led Corden to believe the project influenced the cancellation, as Microsoft aimed to reallocate resources toward its most promising projects. As such, Fallout 5 ostensibly wasn’t the sole reason Blackbird was supposedly canceled, even though it was likely a significant contributor.

Multiple Fallout Games Are Reportedly in the Works Right Now

At the end of the day, a new IP in the crowded MMORPG market like Blackbird is a significant risk, especially when compared to backing a mainline Fallout installment amid the franchise’s peak popularity, boosted by Amazon’s massively successful TV adaptation. Fallout 5 is not the only series entry currently believed to be in the pipeline, with a separate July 2025 report claiming Bethesda presently has multiple Fallout games in the works. One of them is the alleged Fallout 3 remaster, which may be handled externally, similar to the Virtuos-developed The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered.

Fallout 5 Isn’t Coming Anytime Soon

Fallout 5, however, is expected to be developed by Bethesda itself. The studio itself is currently focused on The Elder Scrolls 6, which has been in active production since around the time Starfield went gold in 2023. With modern AAA dev cycles being five years long at a minimum, the chances of Fallout 5 materializing before 2033 appear slim.

Fallout 4

9/10

Released

November 10, 2015

ESRB

M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS

Engine

Creation