id Software Responds to Xbox Layoffs and Insures Fans It Can Still Build Games
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Following massive Microsoft layoffs across the Xbox division, id Software released a statement assuring fans that the studio still has the crew necessary to develop games and maintain the id Tech engine.
Following a devastating wave of cuts across the Xbox division, legendary developer id Software has released a statement addressing reports about its headcount. As reported by Michael McWhertor at Polygon, the studio behind Doom and Quake confirmed that it was impacted by the layoffs, but pushed back against rumors suggesting the team had been slashed in half. According to id, the remaining staff size is comparable to the team that built 2016's Doom, and the studio plans to stick to its flat structure where everyone contributes directly to development.
The uncertainty surrounding the studio began when a WARN notice confirmed 136 layoffs at ZeniMax Media's Richardson offices in Texas, sparking concern over the future of the proprietary id Tech engine. While Microsoft representatives have maintained that dozens of employees are still actively working on the engine across multiple locations, the broader restructuring has hit veteran studios hard. Alongside id, teams at Bethesda, Obsidian, and other major developers are facing massive changes as Microsoft trims 3,200 jobs from its gaming division over the coming year.
Despite the corporate turmoil, id Software launched the new Revelations DLC for Doom: The Dark Ages this week and confirmed plans to appear at QuakeCon this August. For players and community members, the studio's resilience is a small comfort, but the ongoing contraction across the industry raises serious questions about long-term stability at major publishers. When historic developers with decades of pedigree are forced to rebuild after corporate overhauls, the entire ecosystem feels the shockwave.
Tags: id Software, Xbox, Industry Layoffs, Doom, Gaming News
Original article: Polygon