Former ZeniMax Online developers form Ironroot Games after 'traumatizing' layoffs
In July 2025, ZeniMax Online Studios' principal gameplay designer, Quentin Cobb, was among the thousands laid off as part of Microsoft's brutal cuts across its gaming division. Like many game developers, he struggled to find another role in a tough job market. So, he made the obvious choice: starting his own game.
In December 2025, Ironroot Games was revealed, a new independent studio composed entirely of veteran, laid-off AAA game developers, with Cobb as CEO and creative director. This isn't the only new studio born from the ashes of Project Blackbird, the ZeniMax Online MMORPG that was reportedly in development since 2018 and canceled as part of Microsoft's July cuts.
Sackbird Studios, an employee-owned indie studio, was announced in October 2025, composed of former Elder Scrolls Online and Project Blackbird developers. ZeniMax Online founder Matt Firor, who left the studio after Project Blackbird's cancellation, has been informally guiding these new studios.
The gaming industry has seen numerous layoffs over the past four years, particularly impacting the US AAA sector. Even experienced developers have struggled to find work, leading to the creation of numerous outfits helmed by AAA veterans.
However, the industry is transitioning. As the AAA model falters, mid-priced or indie games are breaking through to sell millions. There's a buzz of optimism and a rejection of the rigid hierarchy and safe thinking of the AAA world.
Ironroot Games' principal gameplay designer, Elaine Gómez, explains that they're exploring ideas they couldn't in AAA due to tighter constraints. Cobb, reveling in the freedom of his new studio, wants to creatively spread their wings and explore a collaborative game.
Cobb emphasizes the importance of people's voices and experiences in indie teams, encouraging everyone's input on design and story. He learned the lesson of realistic project scope to avoid stress and crunch, ensuring a healthy environment.
Ironroot's first project remains under wraps, but it will be a personal, small-budget indie game. The studio is mindful of budgetary challenges and employee turnover, with a mix of paid contributors and those on a deferred basis.
Cobb plans to be fully transparent with the team about finances, sharing revenue details and offering a fair revenue share structure. He believes developers should earn the money their games make, a stark contrast to corporate practices.
Gómez, also the founder of Midnight Hour Games, dedicates time to Ironroot, acknowledging the ebb and flow of the workforce. They prioritize people's lives and careers, ensuring a healthy and valued environment.
Ironroot Games needs funding, and Cobb acknowledges the challenges of fundraising and positioning the game. The balance between artistic vision and financial stability is a constant struggle, but Ironroot aims to change things and move away from old practices.
The team has experienced trauma from previous layoffs, with Cobb still processing the abrupt cancellation of Project Blackbird. Gómez recalls a 'traumatizing' experience at Worlds Untold, where she worked as a principal gameplay designer until the studio's closure.
Despite the challenges, Ironroot Games is determined to control its destiny, offering a different way of doing things in a precarious employment landscape.
