‘Ship a good game, learn from it, and build from there:’ Lessons from going indie after a decade at id Software
Doom Eternal art director Tony Garza and fellow id Software veteran Richard O’Neal have launched Turnkey Games, an independent game studio created after their departures from id Software. Their move comes amid an industry-wide pattern of major studios conducting significant layoffs, prompting experienced developers to reconsider career paths in AAA environments.
The co-founders’ decision to pursue indie development reflects both frustration with instability at established studios and the growing viability of independent ventures for senior industry talent. Rather than face repeated cycles of downsizing at triple-A publishers, Garza and O’Neal leveraged their experience to build their own studio. The article discusses this as part of a broader existential question facing game industry professionals: whether to remain at large publishers or seek autonomy and control through independent development.
Their transition exemplifies how industry consolidation and workforce reduction are driving capable developers away from traditional employment structures toward entrepreneurial alternatives. With a decade of experience at id Software behind them, Garza and O’Neal bring substantial expertise to Turnkey Games as they enter the competitive indie sector.