Microsoft’s recent layoff saw dozens of Zenimax Online Studios employees leave the company. Now, some of those impacted by that layoff have formed a new, self-funded, indie studio called Sackbird Studios with its headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. Their goal is to build “unforgettable multiplayer experiences that surprise and thrill” players.
Sackbird Studios founding team
“Today we’re proud to announce Sackbird Studios — an independent game studio based in Baltimore, Maryland, built by friends who’ve spent years designing worlds, systems, and stories for players everywhere,” the studio announced on different social media platforms.
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“Now, we’re setting out to create something of our own — unforgettable multiplayer experiences that surprise and thrill players. We’re private, self-funded, and employee-owned, giving our team the freedom to focus on what matters most: making great games without compromise. This is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to share what’s ahead.”
Sackbird Studios has three co-founders and a total of 5 employees on its roster at the time of writing. David Worley is one of the co-founders and the studio’s COO. Robert Ballantyne is also a co-founder and CTO, while Doug C is a co-founder and Chief Creative Officer. Lee Ridout serves as the Studio Head, while Emily Turner is the studio’s designer.
“After years in AAA, we wanted the freedom to take smart risks without waiting for a greenlight or chasing quarterly targets,” said Worley. “We’re fully employee-owned and funded, which means we only answer to people who are passionate about games.”
The co-founders describe Sackbird Studios as a developer-first environment with a long runway. The founding team was inspired by the cancellation of Project Blackbird, although a painful experience, to build a studio designed to avoid many of the pitfalls experienced across the industry.
“We’re grateful for our time at ZeniMax Online Studios; it shaped us as developers and as people,” said Ridout.
“When I learned that Blackbird was being canceled and a lot of people were losing their jobs, it lit a fire. We realized the best way to protect our craft—and our team—was to create a studio where creative independence isn’t negotiable.”
Sackbird Studios is already working on an original IP
Although the unveiling of the studio did not come with a game announcement, the founding team confirmed that they are actively working on an original project for consoles and PC. They promised to share more about the title when the game is ready.
Since Sackbird Studios is employee-owned and self-funded, they retain full creative control of their titles. According to the studio’s press release, they are not under any mandate to chase trends and all decisions are driven by craft and player experience.
Sharing the company’s post, Dough was ecstatic, calling it a dream come true. Doug wrote a lengthy comment, part of which read, “For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of building something of my own — a studio where creativity comes first, where the team has ownership, and where we make the kind of games we’ve always wanted to play”.
“It’s hard to describe the mix of emotions — grateful, overwhelmed, nervous, and beyond excited — but above all, I feel lucky. Lucky to be doing this with friends I deeply respect, and to finally create something truly our own.”
What kind of game are you expecting from Sackbird Studios, considering the studio is currently made up of 5 employees? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
