iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

This is a project I've had my eye on for a while. Jen and team are deeply experienced and are making a really cool interactive "FriendMO" (not MMO!). It's a cooperative Sandbox RPG for up to 16 friends to share and explore. Check it out and wishlist on Steam!

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Hard to believe it’s almost 25 years since Dark Age of Camelot launched way back in 2001. We’re going to focus on the European version of the game at Devcom in Cologne later this month. Camelot was always very popular in Europe, should be a great hour of old game dev and live service war stories

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

I'm hardly an impartial observer (and am even name-checked in the article), but this article does a good job summing up the utter senselessness of the recent carnage at ZeniMax Online. Again, my heart goes out to everyone impacted, it is just so cruel and unnecessary www.pcgamer.com/games/mmo/th...

pcgamer.com

The Elder Scrolls Online's developer deserved better than to get sucker-punched by Microsoft twice in two years

$2 billion over 10 years can't save you from Xbox.

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

I am unbelievably shattered and heartbroken with the news coming out of ZenMax Online and Xbox in general today. The team at ZOS is made up of amazing, dedicated, smart - and above all, awesome humans. To see so many of them laid off today - and last year at this time - is just awful

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

This was a fun interview: reminisce about the "old days" of MMOG development, talk about some lessons learned, and what's happening right now in live service game development. Thanks to the guys at 80.lv for putting this together! 80.lv/articles/mat...

80.lv

40 Years of MMO Design Lessons From ESO’s Founding Director

The founder of ZeniMax Online Studios shares insights from decades of MMO development, covering ESO’s evolution, live service challenges, and what makes online worlds succeed long-term.

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

I caught up with Ben Hanson from MinnMax for a chat about what I've been up to, and go over some recent and ancient history from my game dev career, including Dark Age of Camelot, Elder Scrolls Online, and the recently canceled ZOS "next" project. Thanks Ben and MinnMax! youtu.be/42I1imOrcfg?...

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Westminster MD shows up again! We’ll keep doing this as long as needed. #NoKings!

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

This is unacceptable and must be denounced by every politician serving in office. The White House is already trying out excuses: "it's a meme!" "it's just a Lion King parody"! He knows he is failing and is becoming more and more erratic

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Add this to my list of "this is unacceptable" actions by the current administration. Crude intimidation tactics made to play to the MAGA base to generate headlines to make it seem like the Admin is tough and in charge - when all they are doing is showing how weak and afraid they are

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

If this is not grounds for impeachment, what is? The President is not well, and this is unacceptable

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Now is one of the most important times in the history of this country to stand up for the rule of law, and to stand against blatant misuse of power. I stand with Chairman Powell.

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Reposted by Matt Firor

George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Let us all stand with Chairman Powell.

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Happy New Year everyone. I’ve been pretty quiet the last six months, but I posted this message on LinkedIn late yesterday just to give everyone an update. I’ll put it here just to make sure it gets around

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

The world was a better place with Vince in it. Just devastating news. Our paths crossed a few times, mostly socially, but he was very close friends with many people I hold dear, and my thoughts are with them and his family.

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

#nokings Westminster Maryland says NO KINGS - even more here now than in the last video from 30 minutes ago

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

One again Westminster Maryland says NO KINGS! Turnout about 2X the size of the last protest - so happy to be out here representing sanity with so many others!

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

Very sad to hear the news that Julian LeFay has passed. As one of the original creators of The Elder Scrolls series he was the lead developer on Arena and Daggerfall. I only met him once, and that was just in passing, so I didn't know him. His creation has had a profound impact on my career and life

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

No Kings! So says Westminster Maryland. Great to see so many people out for the rally

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

"I look into my phone, where they store the horrors....." Fortunately the phone is also where they store Alexandra Petri - so glad to have her back on the job, but I wish she wasn't so on the nose about .... everything....

theatlantic.com

So, What Did I Miss?

“How much can possibly happen when I’m on parental leave?” I said five months ago.

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

It's Friday! That means the next in the series of Elder Scrolls Online's development history hosted by the guys at Kinda Funny. Hear about how we set up Tamriel in the early days of the project and much, much more www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRED...

youtube.com

The Elder Scrolls Online Podcast - A Kinda Funny Gamescast Limited Series - Episode 3

YouTube video by Bethesda Softworks

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

It's been two weeks which means Ep. 2 of Kinda Funny's deep dive into Elder Scrolls Online's development history - in this one we talk about revenue models, server stability and much more. As always thanks to @gameovergreggy.bsky.social and the gang at Kinda Funny! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfct...

youtube.com

The Elder Scrolls Online Podcast - A Kinda Funny Gamescast Limited Series - Episode 2

YouTube video by Bethesda Softworks

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

I think it’s time to come to grips with the fact that we (Americans) have constructed an information firewall far more effective than the Chinese in keeping information we don’t want to see away from our screens. At least 50% of us have outsourced our firewall duties to Fox News, et al

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

If you’ve ever wondered how a giant game like Elder Scrolls Online is designed and developed, here’s the first episode in a limited podcast series from Kinda Funny all about ESO. Thanks to @gameovergreggy.bsky.social and the gang at KF for this! www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye5XI3YlJ4A

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The Elder Scrolls Online @elderscrollsonline.com · 10/04/2025

No more monkeying around! 🐒 Today's the day! Tune in today at 3:00 PM ET/8:00 PM BST for the #ESODirect2025 at twitch.tv/bethesda.

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Apropos of nothing in particular, here is a really good succinct lesson on dictatorship/authoritarian history and characteristics. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK6f...

youtube.com

History Professor Answers Dictator Questions | Tech Support | WIRED

YouTube video by WIRED

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

The Video Games Industry Memo is a gem and should be subscribed to by everyone interested in game business and development. I had a great chat with George Osborn about live service games in general and Elder Scrolls Online - check it out here www.videogamesindustrymemo.com/p/still-aliv...

videogamesindustrymemo.com

Listen to your Elder Scrolls, 13/03/2025

Matt Firor, Studio Director at ZeniMax Online Studios, provides some optimism for live service game developers

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

We are in uncharted treacherous waters leading towards a world calamity. Appeasing Russia will only kick the can down the road (and condemning Ukraine to the sword as payment) - and in months or years we will be back in the same place with far higher stakes (Poland, Hungary, Finland)

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Lum @brokentoys.social · 28/02/2025

I can't express just how much today's display of stupidity, cowardice and treason in the Oval Office goes against nearly everything I've believed in my entire life. I remember when America stood for something other than/in addition to making a few people rich.

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Donald Trump is a disgrace to this nation, and at this point, to the world. His dogged adherence to Putin is putting all of us in danger - Europe, North America, and the world. We have small-minded arrogantly ignorant individuals in charge and we are all going to pay the price

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

In this, the last hour of sanity we will know for years, an interesting take on Tolkien's understanding of what a LOTR sequel meant: it rendered all the heroics of the trilogy moot. A lesson for us all today. Apologies for paywall, but it's a Post exclusive www.washingtonpost.com/books/2025/0...

washingtonpost.com

Review | The lesson of J.R.R. Tolkien’s abandoned Lord of the Rings sequel

‘The New Shadow,’ which Tolkien left unfinished at his death, has a chilling warning about the dangers of historical amnesia and peacetime rot.

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

I just started following Greg Olear - highly recommended. There is so much (mis, dis, other) information flying around right now that it is very refreshing to find someone who can distill this chaos into a coherent narrative. @gregolear.bsky.social gregolear.substack.com/p/sunday-pag...

gregolear.substack.com

Sunday Pages: The Age of Unreality

This is not a movie.

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

It never ceases to amaze me how talented people can be with Elder Scrolls Online's housing system - here's a user named Futerko, who has built an homage to King Kong (the island and the beast) - simply amazing! www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQFI...

youtube.com

King Kong - ESO

YouTube video by Futerko

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 05/11/2024

If you want some distraction today, I got the opportunity to go in depth on Elder Scrolls Online, my path into the game industry in the Modem Age, and generally chatting about my favorite games. This is a great podcast and is now on my weekly listening rotation pca.st/episode/9952...

pca.st

Matt Firor, founder of ZeniMax Online Studios (The Elder Scrolls Online). - My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin

In My Perfect Console, Simon Parkin, award-winning writer for the New Yorker and The Observer newspaper's video game critic invites a well-known guest from the worlds of gaming, film and television, m...

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Matt Firor @thefiror.bsky.social · 18/09/2024

Well it’s not as impressive as some of you with your numbers under 50,000, but glad to be here!

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