Xbox's sci-fi looter-shooter Blackbird was scrapped even after leaving execs 'blown away'
The exciting new IP was expected to rival the Destiny franchise with its looter-shooter gameplay in an alien noir-themed world. The Bloomberg report revealed that a sci-fi setting would be paired with movement-based abilities like "double-jumping, air-dashing, a grappling hook and wall climbing." The project was reportedly gaining momentum recently and was set to release in 2028, after the studio expanded its team to 300 people.
Microsoft didn't provide comments to Bloomberg or any explicit reasoning why the Blackbird project was dropped. Not much was known about the game, but TrueAchievements uncovered a plot that revolves around players uncovering a notorious murder in a capital city called Exodus. Along with Blackbird, Microsoft cancelled Everwild , a fantasy game from Rare that's been in development since 2014, and a reboot of the Perfect Dark first-person shooter.
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