Overview

• Founders include CEO Lee Ridout, COO David Worley, project technical director Robert Ballantyne, and lead engagement designer Doug Carroll from the Elder Scrolls Online and Project Blackbird teams.
• Sackbird states it is fully employee-owned with no outside investors and has a multi-year runway intended to support sustainable, developer-first practices.
• The studio confirms fewer than ten senior developers are currently on staff and is based in Baltimore.
• An original, unannounced title is in active development for PC and consoles, with the team signaling a focus on memorable multiplayer experiences.
• The formation follows Microsoft layoffs and the cancellation of ZeniMax Online’s Project Blackbird, which Bloomberg reported had been in development since 2018.