Quentin Cobb and Elaine Gómez discuss rising from the ashes to build a collaborative, people-first studio.

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Former ZeniMax Online developers launched Ironroot Games after being laid off during Microsoft's July 2025 cuts that cancelled Project Blackbird. The studio, led by Quentin Cobb and Elaine Gómez, aims to build a collaborative, people-first environment with transparent pay structures and revenue sharing. Operating with a flexible, part-time workforce while seeking funding, they're developing an unannounced indie game with realistic scope to avoid AAA pitfalls. The team joins other studios formed by laid-off AAA veterans navigating a challenging funding environment while rejecting corporate hierarchy.

Former ZeniMax Online devs form Ironroot Games following "traumatising" layoffs