Id Software Lead Cracks Open the Reality of Triple-A Cuts and Says Making Another 2016 Doom Is Impossible
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
An id Software lead developer has spoken out on a recent podcast regarding Microsoft's massive studio layoffs, stating that building triple-A games like 2016's Doom with half the staff is impossible.
Recent massive workforce reductions across the gaming industry continue to hit major studios hard. In a recent interview on the Well Played podcast with host Andre Peschke, reported by Eurogamer, id Software lead services provider Chris Hayes pulled back the curtain on the studio's recent layoffs and challenged corporate narratives from Microsoft. Hayes stated plainly that attempting to build massive triple-A experiences with half the staff is not just difficult, but entirely impossible. When entire creative disciplines and specialized departments vanish, the foundational pipeline of game development breaks down completely.
Hayes also addressed the ongoing tension surrounding subscription models like Xbox Game Pass and traditional retail sales metrics. Pointing to corporate financial reports that criticize soft sales under Bethesda, Hayes questioned the relevance of unit sales in an ecosystem built around subscription access. He argued that the leadership driving these sweeping cuts fundamentally misunderstands both the artistic process and the modern gaming business model. Slicing a studio in half ignores how vital cross-discipline team cohesion is to shipping a polished, high-end title.
These cuts are part of a broader corporate reset at Microsoft that sees thousands of jobs eliminated across Xbox-owned divisions. While remaining staff have received corporate reassurances that studio culture and output will remain unaffected, developers on the ground are pushing back against the PR talking points. For players and community members who care about the future of high-budget shooters and single-player epics, these structural changes signal a troubling disconnect between executive bean counters and the creators actually making the games.
Tags: id Software, Xbox, Doom, Industry News, Game Pass
Original article: Eurogamer