Former ZeniMax Online Developers Launch Ironroot Games After Experiencing Traumatic Layoffs

In the wake of Microsoft's brutal cuts across its gaming division in July 2025, former ZeniMax Online Studios principal gameplay designer Quentin Cobb found himself among the thousands laid off. Following a tough job market, Cobb decided to take matters into his own hands and create his own game. This led to the formation of Ironroot Games in December 2025, an independent studio composed of veteran AAA game developers, with Cobb as CEO and creative director. The studio's focus is on collaboration and putting people first, with a goal of creating a healthy work environment where everyone's voice is heard. Ironroot Games is not the only new studio to emerge from the ashes of Project Blackbird, a ZeniMax Online MMORPG that was cancelled as part of Microsoft's July cuts. The games industry has seen numerous layoffs over the past four years, particularly impacting the US and AAA sector, leading to experienced developers struggling to find work and opting to start their own studios instead. Despite the challenges of launching a new studio in a hostile environment with ongoing funding and discoverability crises, Ironroot Games is determined to succeed with a people-first approach, ensuring realistic project scope, and a fair and equitable pay structure. The studio's first project is currently under wraps, but it will be a personal indie game with a small budget. Ironroot Games is being cautious about its employee count, with a mix of paid contributors and those working on a deferred basis. The studio's founders, Cobb and Elaine Gómez, are committed to creating a space where people feel valued, heard, and part of something bigger than themselves. With a focus on transparency, fairness, and collaboration, Ironroot Games is striving to change the traditional studio model and create a better work environment for its employees.