diff --git a/src/Linker/Game/IW3/ZoneCreatorIW3.cpp b/src/Linker/Game/IW3/ZoneCreatorIW3.cpp
index 7266fc52..969380b3 100644
--- a/src/Linker/Game/IW3/ZoneCreatorIW3.cpp
+++ b/src/Linker/Game/IW3/ZoneCreatorIW3.cpp
@@ -1,71 +1,14 @@
 #include "ZoneCreatorIW3.h"
 
-#include "AssetLoading/AssetLoadingContext.h"
-#include "Game/IW3/GameAssetPoolIW3.h"
-#include "Game/IW3/GameIW3.h"
-#include "IObjLoader.h"
-#include "ObjLoading.h"
-#include "Utils/StringUtils.h"
+#include "Game/IW3/IW3.h"
 
 using namespace IW3;
 
-std::vector<Gdt*> ZoneCreator::CreateGdtList(const ZoneCreationContext& context)
-{
-    std::vector<Gdt*> gdtList;
-    gdtList.reserve(context.m_gdt_files.size());
-    for (const auto& gdt : context.m_gdt_files)
-        gdtList.push_back(gdt.get());
-
-    return gdtList;
-}
-
-void ZoneCreator::ApplyIgnoredAssets(const ZoneCreationContext& creationContext, AssetLoadingContext& loadingContext)
-{
-    for (const auto& ignoreEntry : creationContext.m_ignored_assets.m_entries)
-        loadingContext.m_ignored_asset_map[ignoreEntry.m_name] = ignoreEntry.m_type;
-}
-
-void ZoneCreator::CreateZoneAssetPools(Zone* zone) const
-{
-    zone->m_pools = std::make_unique<GameAssetPoolIW3>(zone, zone->m_priority);
-
-    for (auto assetType = 0; assetType < ASSET_TYPE_COUNT; assetType++)
-        zone->m_pools->InitPoolDynamic(assetType);
-}
-
 GameId ZoneCreator::GetGameId() const
 {
     return GameId::IW3;
 }
 
-std::unique_ptr<Zone> ZoneCreator::CreateZoneForDefinition(ZoneCreationContext& context) const
-{
-    auto zone = std::make_unique<Zone>(context.m_definition->m_name, 0, IGame::GetGameById(GameId::IW3));
-    CreateZoneAssetPools(zone.get());
-
-    for (const auto& assetEntry : context.m_definition->m_assets)
-    {
-        if (!assetEntry.m_is_reference)
-            continue;
-
-        context.m_ignored_assets.m_entries.emplace_back(assetEntry.m_asset_type, assetEntry.m_asset_name, assetEntry.m_is_reference);
-    }
-
-    const auto assetLoadingContext = std::make_unique<AssetLoadingContext>(*zone, *context.m_asset_search_path, CreateGdtList(context));
-    ApplyIgnoredAssets(context, *assetLoadingContext);
-
-    const auto* objLoader = IObjLoader::GetObjLoaderForGame(GameId::IW3);
-    for (const auto& assetEntry : context.m_definition->m_assets)
-    {
-        if (!objLoader->LoadAssetForZone(*assetLoadingContext, assetEntry.m_asset_type, assetEntry.m_asset_name))
-            return nullptr;
-    }
-
-    objLoader->FinalizeAssetsForZone(*assetLoadingContext);
-
-    return zone;
-}
-
 asset_type_t ZoneCreator::GetImageAssetType() const
 {
     return ASSET_TYPE_IMAGE;
diff --git a/src/Linker/Game/IW3/ZoneCreatorIW3.h b/src/Linker/Game/IW3/ZoneCreatorIW3.h
index 7c756cf7..91cc2a19 100644
--- a/src/Linker/Game/IW3/ZoneCreatorIW3.h
+++ b/src/Linker/Game/IW3/ZoneCreatorIW3.h
@@ -1,20 +1,13 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include "AssetLoading/AssetLoadingContext.h"
-#include "Zone/ZoneTypes.h"
 #include "ZoneCreation/ZoneCreator.h"
 
 namespace IW3
 {
     class ZoneCreator final : public IZoneCreator
     {
-        static std::vector<Gdt*> CreateGdtList(const ZoneCreationContext& context);
-        static void ApplyIgnoredAssets(const ZoneCreationContext& creationContext, AssetLoadingContext& loadingContext);
-        void CreateZoneAssetPools(Zone* zone) const;
-
     public:
         [[nodiscard]] GameId GetGameId() const override;
-        [[nodiscard]] std::unique_ptr<Zone> CreateZoneForDefinition(ZoneCreationContext& context) const override;
         [[nodiscard]] asset_type_t GetImageAssetType() const override;
     };
 } // namespace IW3
diff --git a/src/Linker/Game/IW4/ZoneCreatorIW4.cpp b/src/Linker/Game/IW4/ZoneCreatorIW4.cpp
index 5a1165bb..2b33cb68 100644
--- a/src/Linker/Game/IW4/ZoneCreatorIW4.cpp
+++ b/src/Linker/Game/IW4/ZoneCreatorIW4.cpp
@@ -1,70 +1,14 @@
 #include "ZoneCreatorIW4.h"
 
-#include "Game/IW4/GameAssetPoolIW4.h"
-#include "Game/IW4/GameIW4.h"
-#include "IObjLoader.h"
-#include "ObjLoading.h"
-#include "Utils/StringUtils.h"
+#include "Game/IW4/IW4.h"
 
 using namespace IW4;
 
-std::vector<Gdt*> ZoneCreator::CreateGdtList(const ZoneCreationContext& context)
-{
-    std::vector<Gdt*> gdtList;
-    gdtList.reserve(context.m_gdt_files.size());
-    for (const auto& gdt : context.m_gdt_files)
-        gdtList.push_back(gdt.get());
-
-    return gdtList;
-}
-
-void ZoneCreator::ApplyIgnoredAssets(const ZoneCreationContext& creationContext, AssetLoadingContext& loadingContext)
-{
-    for (const auto& ignoreEntry : creationContext.m_ignored_assets.m_entries)
-        loadingContext.m_ignored_asset_map[ignoreEntry.m_name] = ignoreEntry.m_type;
-}
-
-void ZoneCreator::CreateZoneAssetPools(Zone* zone) const
-{
-    zone->m_pools = std::make_unique<GameAssetPoolIW4>(zone, zone->m_priority);
-
-    for (auto assetType = 0; assetType < ASSET_TYPE_COUNT; assetType++)
-        zone->m_pools->InitPoolDynamic(assetType);
-}
-
 GameId ZoneCreator::GetGameId() const
 {
     return GameId::IW4;
 }
 
-std::unique_ptr<Zone> ZoneCreator::CreateZoneForDefinition(ZoneCreationContext& context) const
-{
-    auto zone = std::make_unique<Zone>(context.m_definition->m_name, 0, IGame::GetGameById(GameId::IW4));
-    CreateZoneAssetPools(zone.get());
-
-    for (const auto& assetEntry : context.m_definition->m_assets)
-    {
-        if (!assetEntry.m_is_reference)
-            continue;
-
-        context.m_ignored_assets.m_entries.emplace_back(assetEntry.m_asset_type, assetEntry.m_asset_name, assetEntry.m_is_reference);
-    }
-
-    const auto assetLoadingContext = std::make_unique<AssetLoadingContext>(*zone, *context.m_asset_search_path, CreateGdtList(context));
-    ApplyIgnoredAssets(context, *assetLoadingContext);
-
-    const auto* objLoader = IObjLoader::GetObjLoaderForGame(GameId::IW4);
-    for (const auto& assetEntry : context.m_definition->m_assets)
-    {
-        if (!objLoader->LoadAssetForZone(*assetLoadingContext, assetEntry.m_asset_type, assetEntry.m_asset_name))
-            return nullptr;
-    }
-
-    objLoader->FinalizeAssetsForZone(*assetLoadingContext);
-
-    return zone;
-}
-
 asset_type_t ZoneCreator::GetImageAssetType() const
 {
     return ASSET_TYPE_IMAGE;
diff --git a/src/Linker/Game/IW4/ZoneCreatorIW4.h b/src/Linker/Game/IW4/ZoneCreatorIW4.h
index 7523c790..5c439361 100644
--- a/src/Linker/Game/IW4/ZoneCreatorIW4.h
+++ b/src/Linker/Game/IW4/ZoneCreatorIW4.h
@@ -1,20 +1,13 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include "AssetLoading/AssetLoadingContext.h"
-#include "Zone/ZoneTypes.h"
 #include "ZoneCreation/ZoneCreator.h"
 
 namespace IW4
 {
     class ZoneCreator final : public IZoneCreator
     {
-        static std::vector<Gdt*> CreateGdtList(const ZoneCreationContext& context);
-        static void ApplyIgnoredAssets(const ZoneCreationContext& creationContext, AssetLoadingContext& loadingContext);
-        void CreateZoneAssetPools(Zone* zone) const;
-
     public:
         [[nodiscard]] GameId GetGameId() const override;
-        [[nodiscard]] std::unique_ptr<Zone> CreateZoneForDefinition(ZoneCreationContext& context) const override;
         [[nodiscard]] asset_type_t GetImageAssetType() const override;
     };
 } // namespace IW4
diff --git a/src/Linker/Game/IW5/ZoneCreatorIW5.cpp b/src/Linker/Game/IW5/ZoneCreatorIW5.cpp
index a31841a6..c7700dd4 100644
--- a/src/Linker/Game/IW5/ZoneCreatorIW5.cpp
+++ b/src/Linker/Game/IW5/ZoneCreatorIW5.cpp
@@ -1,70 +1,14 @@
 #include "ZoneCreatorIW5.h"
 
-#include "Game/IW5/GameAssetPoolIW5.h"
-#include "Game/IW5/GameIW5.h"
-#include "IObjLoader.h"
-#include "ObjLoading.h"
-#include "Utils/StringUtils.h"
+#include "Game/IW5/IW5.h"
 
 using namespace IW5;
 
-std::vector<Gdt*> ZoneCreator::CreateGdtList(const ZoneCreationContext& context)
-{
-    std::vector<Gdt*> gdtList;
-    gdtList.reserve(context.m_gdt_files.size());
-    for (const auto& gdt : context.m_gdt_files)
-        gdtList.push_back(gdt.get());
-
-    return gdtList;
-}
-
-void ZoneCreator::ApplyIgnoredAssets(const ZoneCreationContext& creationContext, AssetLoadingContext& loadingContext)
-{
-    for (const auto& ignoreEntry : creationContext.m_ignored_assets.m_entries)
-        loadingContext.m_ignored_asset_map[ignoreEntry.m_name] = ignoreEntry.m_type;
-}
-
-void ZoneCreator::CreateZoneAssetPools(Zone* zone) const
-{
-    zone->m_pools = std::make_unique<GameAssetPoolIW5>(zone, zone->m_priority);
-
-    for (auto assetType = 0; assetType < ASSET_TYPE_COUNT; assetType++)
-        zone->m_pools->InitPoolDynamic(assetType);
-}
-
 GameId ZoneCreator::GetGameId() const
 {
     return GameId::IW5;
 }
 
-std::unique_ptr<Zone> ZoneCreator::CreateZoneForDefinition(ZoneCreationContext& context) const
-{
-    auto zone = std::make_unique<Zone>(context.m_definition->m_name, 0, IGame::GetGameById(GameId::IW5));
-    CreateZoneAssetPools(zone.get());
-
-    for (const auto& assetEntry : context.m_definition->m_assets)
-    {
-        if (!assetEntry.m_is_reference)
-            continue;
-
-        context.m_ignored_assets.m_entries.emplace_back(assetEntry.m_asset_type, assetEntry.m_asset_name, assetEntry.m_is_reference);
-    }
-
-    const auto assetLoadingContext = std::make_unique<AssetLoadingContext>(*zone, *context.m_asset_search_path, CreateGdtList(context));
-    ApplyIgnoredAssets(context, *assetLoadingContext);
-
-    const auto* objLoader = IObjLoader::GetObjLoaderForGame(GameId::IW5);
-    for (const auto& assetEntry : context.m_definition->m_assets)
-    {
-        if (!objLoader->LoadAssetForZone(*assetLoadingContext, assetEntry.m_asset_type, assetEntry.m_asset_name))
-            return nullptr;
-    }
-
-    objLoader->FinalizeAssetsForZone(*assetLoadingContext);
-
-    return zone;
-}
-
 asset_type_t ZoneCreator::GetImageAssetType() const
 {
     return ASSET_TYPE_IMAGE;
diff --git a/src/Linker/Game/IW5/ZoneCreatorIW5.h b/src/Linker/Game/IW5/ZoneCreatorIW5.h
index cee48755..02856166 100644
--- a/src/Linker/Game/IW5/ZoneCreatorIW5.h
+++ b/src/Linker/Game/IW5/ZoneCreatorIW5.h
@@ -1,19 +1,13 @@
 #pragma once
-#include "AssetLoading/AssetLoadingContext.h"
-#include "Zone/ZoneTypes.h"
+
 #include "ZoneCreation/ZoneCreator.h"
 
 namespace IW5
 {
     class ZoneCreator final : public IZoneCreator
     {
-        static std::vector<Gdt*> CreateGdtList(const ZoneCreationContext& context);
-        static void ApplyIgnoredAssets(const ZoneCreationContext& creationContext, AssetLoadingContext& loadingContext);
-        void CreateZoneAssetPools(Zone* zone) const;
-
     public:
         [[nodiscard]] GameId GetGameId() const override;
-        [[nodiscard]] std::unique_ptr<Zone> CreateZoneForDefinition(ZoneCreationContext& context) const override;
         [[nodiscard]] asset_type_t GetImageAssetType() const override;
     };
 } // namespace IW5
diff --git a/src/Linker/Game/T5/ZoneCreatorT5.cpp b/src/Linker/Game/T5/ZoneCreatorT5.cpp
index ee72e9df..47dc181d 100644
--- a/src/Linker/Game/T5/ZoneCreatorT5.cpp
+++ b/src/Linker/Game/T5/ZoneCreatorT5.cpp
@@ -1,71 +1,14 @@
 #include "ZoneCreatorT5.h"
 
-#include "AssetLoading/AssetLoadingContext.h"
-#include "Game/T5/GameAssetPoolT5.h"
-#include "Game/T5/GameT5.h"
-#include "IObjLoader.h"
-#include "ObjLoading.h"
-#include "Utils/StringUtils.h"
+#include "Game/T5/T5.h"
 
 using namespace T5;
 
-std::vector<Gdt*> ZoneCreator::CreateGdtList(ZoneCreationContext& context)
-{
-    std::vector<Gdt*> gdtList;
-    gdtList.reserve(context.m_gdt_files.size());
-    for (const auto& gdt : context.m_gdt_files)
-        gdtList.push_back(gdt.get());
-
-    return gdtList;
-}
-
-void ZoneCreator::ApplyIgnoredAssets(const ZoneCreationContext& creationContext, AssetLoadingContext& loadingContext)
-{
-    for (const auto& ignoreEntry : creationContext.m_ignored_assets.m_entries)
-        loadingContext.m_ignored_asset_map[ignoreEntry.m_name] = ignoreEntry.m_type;
-}
-
-void ZoneCreator::CreateZoneAssetPools(Zone* zone) const
-{
-    zone->m_pools = std::make_unique<GameAssetPoolT5>(zone, zone->m_priority);
-
-    for (auto assetType = 0; assetType < ASSET_TYPE_COUNT; assetType++)
-        zone->m_pools->InitPoolDynamic(assetType);
-}
-
 GameId ZoneCreator::GetGameId() const
 {
     return GameId::T5;
 }
 
-std::unique_ptr<Zone> ZoneCreator::CreateZoneForDefinition(ZoneCreationContext& context) const
-{
-    auto zone = std::make_unique<Zone>(context.m_definition->m_name, 0, IGame::GetGameById(GameId::T5));
-    CreateZoneAssetPools(zone.get());
-
-    for (const auto& assetEntry : context.m_definition->m_assets)
-    {
-        if (!assetEntry.m_is_reference)
-            continue;
-
-        context.m_ignored_assets.m_entries.emplace_back(assetEntry.m_asset_type, assetEntry.m_asset_name, assetEntry.m_is_reference);
-    }
-
-    const auto assetLoadingContext = std::make_unique<AssetLoadingContext>(*zone, *context.m_asset_search_path, CreateGdtList(context));
-    ApplyIgnoredAssets(context, *assetLoadingContext);
-
-    const auto* objLoader = IObjLoader::GetObjLoaderForGame(GameId::T5);
-    for (const auto& assetEntry : context.m_definition->m_assets)
-    {
-        if (!objLoader->LoadAssetForZone(*assetLoadingContext, assetEntry.m_asset_type, assetEntry.m_asset_name))
-            return nullptr;
-    }
-
-    objLoader->FinalizeAssetsForZone(*assetLoadingContext);
-
-    return zone;
-}
-
 asset_type_t ZoneCreator::GetImageAssetType() const
 {
     return ASSET_TYPE_IMAGE;
diff --git a/src/Linker/Game/T5/ZoneCreatorT5.h b/src/Linker/Game/T5/ZoneCreatorT5.h
index a7c8e2e6..25e34eb2 100644
--- a/src/Linker/Game/T5/ZoneCreatorT5.h
+++ b/src/Linker/Game/T5/ZoneCreatorT5.h
@@ -1,19 +1,13 @@
 #pragma once
-#include "AssetLoading/AssetLoadingContext.h"
-#include "Zone/ZoneTypes.h"
+
 #include "ZoneCreation/ZoneCreator.h"
 
 namespace T5
 {
     class ZoneCreator final : public IZoneCreator
     {
-        static std::vector<Gdt*> CreateGdtList(ZoneCreationContext& context);
-        static void ApplyIgnoredAssets(const ZoneCreationContext& creationContext, AssetLoadingContext& loadingContext);
-        void CreateZoneAssetPools(Zone* zone) const;
-
     public:
         [[nodiscard]] GameId GetGameId() const override;
-        [[nodiscard]] std::unique_ptr<Zone> CreateZoneForDefinition(ZoneCreationContext& context) const override;
         [[nodiscard]] asset_type_t GetImageAssetType() const override;
     };
 } // namespace T5
diff --git a/src/Linker/Game/T6/ZoneCreatorT6.cpp b/src/Linker/Game/T6/ZoneCreatorT6.cpp
index 960e258d..7bf7d79d 100644
--- a/src/Linker/Game/T6/ZoneCreatorT6.cpp
+++ b/src/Linker/Game/T6/ZoneCreatorT6.cpp
@@ -1,42 +1,26 @@
 #include "ZoneCreatorT6.h"
 
 #include "Game/T6/CommonT6.h"
-#include "Game/T6/GameAssetPoolT6.h"
-#include "Game/T6/GameT6.h"
 #include "Game/T6/T6.h"
 #include "IObjLoader.h"
 #include "ObjLoading.h"
-#include "Utils/StringUtils.h"
 
+#include <format>
 #include <iostream>
 
 using namespace T6;
 
-std::vector<Gdt*> ZoneCreator::CreateGdtList(const ZoneCreationContext& context)
+GameId ZoneCreator::GetGameId() const
 {
-    std::vector<Gdt*> gdtList;
-    gdtList.reserve(context.m_gdt_files.size());
-    for (const auto& gdt : context.m_gdt_files)
-        gdtList.push_back(gdt.get());
-
-    return gdtList;
+    return GameId::T6;
 }
 
-void ZoneCreator::ApplyIgnoredAssets(const ZoneCreationContext& creationContext, AssetLoadingContext& loadingContext)
+asset_type_t ZoneCreator::GetImageAssetType() const
 {
-    for (const auto& ignoreEntry : creationContext.m_ignored_assets.m_entries)
-        loadingContext.m_ignored_asset_map[ignoreEntry.m_name] = ignoreEntry.m_type;
+    return ASSET_TYPE_IMAGE;
 }
 
-void ZoneCreator::CreateZoneAssetPools(Zone* zone) const
-{
-    zone->m_pools = std::make_unique<GameAssetPoolT6>(zone, zone->m_priority);
-
-    for (auto assetType = 0; assetType < ASSET_TYPE_COUNT; assetType++)
-        zone->m_pools->InitPoolDynamic(assetType);
-}
-
-void ZoneCreator::HandleMetadata(Zone* zone, const ZoneCreationContext& context) const
+void ZoneCreator::HandleMetadata(Zone& zone, const ZoneCreationContext& context) const
 {
     std::vector<KeyValuePair> kvpList;
 
@@ -56,7 +40,7 @@ void ZoneCreator::HandleMetadata(Zone* zone, const ZoneCreationContext& context)
 
                 if (endPtr != &strValue[strValue.size()])
                 {
-                    std::cout << "Could not parse metadata key \"" << metaData.first << "\" as hash\n";
+                    std::cerr << std::format("Could not parse metadata key \"{}\" as hash\n", metaData.first);
                     continue;
                 }
             }
@@ -65,61 +49,21 @@ void ZoneCreator::HandleMetadata(Zone* zone, const ZoneCreationContext& context)
                 keyHash = Common::Com_HashKey(strValue.c_str(), 64);
             }
 
-            KeyValuePair kvp{keyHash, Common::Com_HashKey(zone->m_name.c_str(), 64), zone->GetMemory()->Dup(metaData.second.c_str())};
+            KeyValuePair kvp{keyHash, Common::Com_HashKey(zone.m_name.c_str(), 64), zone.GetMemory()->Dup(metaData.second.c_str())};
             kvpList.push_back(kvp);
         }
     }
 
     if (!kvpList.empty())
     {
-        auto* kvps = zone->GetMemory()->Create<KeyValuePairs>();
-        kvps->name = zone->GetMemory()->Dup(zone->m_name.c_str());
-        kvps->numVariables = kvpList.size();
-        kvps->keyValuePairs = zone->GetMemory()->Alloc<KeyValuePair>(kvpList.size());
+        auto* kvps = zone.GetMemory()->Create<KeyValuePairs>();
+        kvps->name = zone.GetMemory()->Dup(zone.m_name.c_str());
+        kvps->numVariables = static_cast<int>(kvpList.size());
+        kvps->keyValuePairs = zone.GetMemory()->Alloc<KeyValuePair>(kvpList.size());
 
         for (auto i = 0u; i < kvpList.size(); i++)
             kvps->keyValuePairs[i] = kvpList[i];
 
-        zone->m_pools->AddAsset(std::make_unique<XAssetInfo<KeyValuePairs>>(ASSET_TYPE_KEYVALUEPAIRS, zone->m_name, kvps));
+        zone.m_pools->AddAsset(std::make_unique<XAssetInfo<KeyValuePairs>>(ASSET_TYPE_KEYVALUEPAIRS, zone.m_name, kvps));
     }
 }
-
-GameId ZoneCreator::GetGameId() const
-{
-    return GameId::T6;
-}
-
-std::unique_ptr<Zone> ZoneCreator::CreateZoneForDefinition(ZoneCreationContext& context) const
-{
-    auto zone = std::make_unique<Zone>(context.m_definition->m_name, 0, IGame::GetGameById(GameId::T6));
-    CreateZoneAssetPools(zone.get());
-
-    for (const auto& assetEntry : context.m_definition->m_assets)
-    {
-        if (!assetEntry.m_is_reference)
-            continue;
-
-        context.m_ignored_assets.m_entries.emplace_back(assetEntry.m_asset_type, assetEntry.m_asset_name, assetEntry.m_is_reference);
-    }
-
-    const auto assetLoadingContext = std::make_unique<AssetLoadingContext>(*zone, *context.m_asset_search_path, CreateGdtList(context));
-    ApplyIgnoredAssets(context, *assetLoadingContext);
-
-    HandleMetadata(zone.get(), context);
-
-    const auto* objLoader = IObjLoader::GetObjLoaderForGame(GameId::T6);
-    for (const auto& assetEntry : context.m_definition->m_assets)
-    {
-        if (!objLoader->LoadAssetForZone(*assetLoadingContext, assetEntry.m_asset_type, assetEntry.m_asset_name))
-            return nullptr;
-    }
-
-    objLoader->FinalizeAssetsForZone(*assetLoadingContext);
-
-    return zone;
-}
-
-asset_type_t ZoneCreator::GetImageAssetType() const
-{
-    return ASSET_TYPE_IMAGE;
-}
diff --git a/src/Linker/Game/T6/ZoneCreatorT6.h b/src/Linker/Game/T6/ZoneCreatorT6.h
index 17e24c78..5ec4a9db 100644
--- a/src/Linker/Game/T6/ZoneCreatorT6.h
+++ b/src/Linker/Game/T6/ZoneCreatorT6.h
@@ -1,20 +1,16 @@
 #pragma once
-#include "AssetLoading/AssetLoadingContext.h"
-#include "Zone/ZoneTypes.h"
+
 #include "ZoneCreation/ZoneCreator.h"
 
 namespace T6
 {
     class ZoneCreator final : public IZoneCreator
     {
-        static std::vector<Gdt*> CreateGdtList(const ZoneCreationContext& context);
-        static void ApplyIgnoredAssets(const ZoneCreationContext& creationContext, AssetLoadingContext& loadingContext);
-        void CreateZoneAssetPools(Zone* zone) const;
-        void HandleMetadata(Zone* zone, const ZoneCreationContext& context) const;
-
     public:
         [[nodiscard]] GameId GetGameId() const override;
-        [[nodiscard]] std::unique_ptr<Zone> CreateZoneForDefinition(ZoneCreationContext& context) const override;
         [[nodiscard]] asset_type_t GetImageAssetType() const override;
+
+    protected:
+        void HandleMetadata(Zone& zone, const ZoneCreationContext& context) const override;
     };
 } // namespace T6
diff --git a/src/Linker/Linker.cpp b/src/Linker/Linker.cpp
index c82a4fda..973eedc8 100644
--- a/src/Linker/Linker.cpp
+++ b/src/Linker/Linker.cpp
@@ -217,14 +217,14 @@ class LinkerImpl final : public Linker
                                                   ISearchPath* gdtSearchPath,
                                                   ISearchPath* sourceSearchPath) const
     {
-        const auto context = std::make_unique<ZoneCreationContext>(&zoneDefinition, assetSearchPath);
-        if (!ProcessZoneDefinitionIgnores(targetName, *context, sourceSearchPath))
+        ZoneCreationContext context(&zoneDefinition, assetSearchPath);
+        if (!ProcessZoneDefinitionIgnores(targetName, context, sourceSearchPath))
             return nullptr;
-        if (!LoadGdtFilesFromZoneDefinition(context->m_gdt_files, zoneDefinition, gdtSearchPath))
+        if (!LoadGdtFilesFromZoneDefinition(context.m_gdt_files, zoneDefinition, gdtSearchPath))
             return nullptr;
 
         const auto* creator = IZoneCreator::GetCreatorForGame(zoneDefinition.m_game);
-        return creator->CreateZoneForDefinition(*context);
+        return creator->CreateZoneForDefinition(context);
     }
 
     bool WriteZoneToFile(const std::string& projectName, Zone* zone) const
@@ -334,11 +334,16 @@ class LinkerImpl final : public Linker
         if (!zoneDefinition)
             return false;
 
-        const auto& gameName = GameId_Names[static_cast<unsigned>(zoneDefinition->m_game)];
-        auto assetSearchPaths = m_search_paths.GetAssetSearchPathsForProject(gameName, projectName);
-        auto gdtSearchPaths = m_search_paths.GetGdtSearchPathsForProject(gameName, projectName);
+        auto result = true;
 
-        auto result = BuildFastFile(projectName, targetName, *zoneDefinition, assetSearchPaths, gdtSearchPaths, sourceSearchPaths);
+        if (!zoneDefinition->m_assets.empty())
+        {
+            const auto& gameName = GameId_Names[static_cast<unsigned>(zoneDefinition->m_game)];
+            auto assetSearchPaths = m_search_paths.GetAssetSearchPathsForProject(gameName, projectName);
+            auto gdtSearchPaths = m_search_paths.GetGdtSearchPathsForProject(gameName, projectName);
+
+            result = result && BuildFastFile(projectName, targetName, *zoneDefinition, assetSearchPaths, gdtSearchPaths, sourceSearchPaths);
+        }
 
         m_search_paths.UnloadProjectSpecificSearchPaths();
 
@@ -362,8 +367,8 @@ class LinkerImpl final : public Linker
                 zoneDirectory = fs::current_path();
             auto absoluteZoneDirectory = absolute(zoneDirectory).string();
 
-            auto zone = std::unique_ptr<Zone>(ZoneLoading::LoadZone(zonePath));
-            if (zone == nullptr)
+            auto zone = ZoneLoading::LoadZone(zonePath);
+            if (!zone)
             {
                 std::cerr << std::format("Failed to load zone \"{}\".\n", zonePath);
                 return false;
diff --git a/src/Linker/ZoneCreation/ZoneCreator.cpp b/src/Linker/ZoneCreation/ZoneCreator.cpp
index 9e1f1004..b8cbfadb 100644
--- a/src/Linker/ZoneCreation/ZoneCreator.cpp
+++ b/src/Linker/ZoneCreation/ZoneCreator.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "Game/IW5/ZoneCreatorIW5.h"
 #include "Game/T5/ZoneCreatorT5.h"
 #include "Game/T6/ZoneCreatorT6.h"
+#include "IObjLoader.h"
 
 #include <cassert>
 
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ const IZoneCreator* IZoneCreator::GetCreatorForGame(GameId game)
         new T5::ZoneCreator(),
         new T6::ZoneCreator(),
     };
+    static_assert(std::extent_v<decltype(zoneCreators)> == static_cast<unsigned>(GameId::COUNT));
 
     assert(static_cast<unsigned>(game) < static_cast<unsigned>(GameId::COUNT));
     const auto* result = zoneCreators[static_cast<unsigned>(game)];
@@ -25,3 +27,71 @@ const IZoneCreator* IZoneCreator::GetCreatorForGame(GameId game)
 
     return result;
 }
+
+namespace
+{
+    std::unique_ptr<Zone> CreateZone(const ZoneCreationContext& context, const GameId gameId)
+    {
+        return std::make_unique<Zone>(context.m_definition->m_name, 0, IGame::GetGameById(gameId));
+    }
+
+    void InitializeAssetPools(Zone& zone, const GameId gameId)
+    {
+        zone.m_pools = ZoneAssetPools::CreateForGame(gameId, &zone, zone.m_priority);
+        const auto assetTypeCount = zone.m_pools->GetAssetTypeCount();
+        for (auto assetType = 0; assetType < assetTypeCount; assetType++)
+            zone.m_pools->InitPoolDynamic(assetType);
+    }
+
+    std::vector<Gdt*> CreateGdtList(const ZoneCreationContext& context)
+    {
+        std::vector<Gdt*> gdtList;
+        gdtList.reserve(context.m_gdt_files.size());
+        for (const auto& gdt : context.m_gdt_files)
+            gdtList.push_back(gdt.get());
+
+        return gdtList;
+    }
+
+    void IgnoreReferencesFromAssets(ZoneCreationContext& context)
+    {
+        for (const auto& assetEntry : context.m_definition->m_assets)
+        {
+            if (!assetEntry.m_is_reference)
+                continue;
+
+            context.m_ignored_assets.m_entries.emplace_back(assetEntry.m_asset_type, assetEntry.m_asset_name, assetEntry.m_is_reference);
+        }
+    }
+
+    void ApplyIgnoredAssetsToLoadingContext(const ZoneCreationContext& creationContext, AssetLoadingContext& loadingContext)
+    {
+        for (const auto& ignoreEntry : creationContext.m_ignored_assets.m_entries)
+            loadingContext.m_ignored_asset_map[ignoreEntry.m_name] = ignoreEntry.m_type;
+    }
+} // namespace
+
+std::unique_ptr<Zone> IZoneCreator::CreateZoneForDefinition(ZoneCreationContext& context) const
+{
+    const auto gameId = GetGameId();
+
+    auto zone = CreateZone(context, gameId);
+    InitializeAssetPools(*zone, gameId);
+
+    AssetLoadingContext assetLoadingContext(*zone, *context.m_asset_search_path, CreateGdtList(context));
+    IgnoreReferencesFromAssets(context);
+    ApplyIgnoredAssetsToLoadingContext(context, assetLoadingContext);
+
+    HandleMetadata(*zone, context);
+
+    const auto* objLoader = IObjLoader::GetObjLoaderForGame(gameId);
+    for (const auto& assetEntry : context.m_definition->m_assets)
+    {
+        if (!objLoader->LoadAssetForZone(assetLoadingContext, assetEntry.m_asset_type, assetEntry.m_asset_name))
+            return nullptr;
+    }
+
+    objLoader->FinalizeAssetsForZone(assetLoadingContext);
+
+    return zone;
+}
diff --git a/src/Linker/ZoneCreation/ZoneCreator.h b/src/Linker/ZoneCreation/ZoneCreator.h
index 470c595d..05cc729f 100644
--- a/src/Linker/ZoneCreation/ZoneCreator.h
+++ b/src/Linker/ZoneCreation/ZoneCreator.h
@@ -14,8 +14,12 @@ public:
     IZoneCreator& operator=(IZoneCreator&& other) noexcept = default;
 
     [[nodiscard]] virtual GameId GetGameId() const = 0;
-    [[nodiscard]] virtual std::unique_ptr<Zone> CreateZoneForDefinition(ZoneCreationContext& context) const = 0;
     [[nodiscard]] virtual asset_type_t GetImageAssetType() const = 0;
 
+    [[nodiscard]] std::unique_ptr<Zone> CreateZoneForDefinition(ZoneCreationContext& context) const;
+
     static const IZoneCreator* GetCreatorForGame(GameId game);
+
+protected:
+    virtual void HandleMetadata(Zone& zone, const ZoneCreationContext& context) const {}
 };
diff --git a/src/ZoneCommon/Pool/ZoneAssetPools.cpp b/src/ZoneCommon/Pool/ZoneAssetPools.cpp
index 9dc79b9a..56b42abf 100644
--- a/src/ZoneCommon/Pool/ZoneAssetPools.cpp
+++ b/src/ZoneCommon/Pool/ZoneAssetPools.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 #include "ZoneAssetPools.h"
 
+#include "Game/IW3/GameAssetPoolIW3.h"
+#include "Game/IW4/GameAssetPoolIW4.h"
+#include "Game/IW5/GameAssetPoolIW5.h"
+#include "Game/T5/GameAssetPoolT5.h"
+#include "Game/T6/GameAssetPoolT6.h"
+#include "Game/T6/ZoneConstantsT6.h"
+
+#include <cassert>
 #include <format>
 
 ZoneAssetPools::ZoneAssetPools(Zone* zone)
@@ -52,3 +60,23 @@ ZoneAssetPools::iterator ZoneAssetPools::end() const
 {
     return m_assets_in_order.end();
 }
+
+std::unique_ptr<ZoneAssetPools> ZoneAssetPools::CreateForGame(const GameId game, Zone* zone, const zone_priority_t priority)
+{
+    switch (game)
+    {
+    case GameId::IW3:
+        return std::make_unique<GameAssetPoolIW3>(zone, priority);
+    case GameId::IW4:
+        return std::make_unique<GameAssetPoolIW4>(zone, priority);
+    case GameId::IW5:
+        return std::make_unique<GameAssetPoolIW5>(zone, priority);
+    case GameId::T5:
+        return std::make_unique<GameAssetPoolT5>(zone, priority);
+    case GameId::T6:
+        return std::make_unique<GameAssetPoolT6>(zone, priority);
+    default:
+        assert(false);
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/ZoneCommon/Pool/ZoneAssetPools.h b/src/ZoneCommon/Pool/ZoneAssetPools.h
index 9f6876e0..5f4b1ecf 100644
--- a/src/ZoneCommon/Pool/ZoneAssetPools.h
+++ b/src/ZoneCommon/Pool/ZoneAssetPools.h
@@ -52,4 +52,6 @@ public:
 
     _NODISCARD iterator begin() const;
     _NODISCARD iterator end() const;
+
+    static std::unique_ptr<ZoneAssetPools> CreateForGame(GameId game, Zone* zone, zone_priority_t priority);
 };