Reports Indicate id Software Heavily Downsized Following Massive Microsoft Restructuring
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Recent filings and insider reports reveal that id Software has lost the vast majority of its workforce due to massive Microsoft restructuring, leaving the legendary studio's future in doubt and killing several unannounced game pitches.
The gaming landscape took another heavy hit as reports surface that Doom and Quake developer id Software has been drastically reduced in size. According to official WARN notices in Texas and insider reporting from outlets like Eurogamer and GamesBeat, 136 employees have been let go, leaving the historic studio with fewer than 50 remaining staff members. Former developers have described the cuts as a devastating blow that wiped out decades of institutional knowledge and technical expertise, raising serious concerns about the studio's ability to operate as a standalone developer moving forward.
The downsizing arrived just as the team was exploring exciting new creative directions following the release of Doom: The Dark Ages and its recent expansion. Unreleased pitches that are now dead in the water included a cyberpunk inspired John Wick style action game codenamed Fury, a survival title influenced by Westworld called Ironwood, a concept for a cooperative Doom experience, and even a pitch for the troubled Perfect Dark franchise. With its workforce reduced to a fraction of its former size, industry observers are questioning whether id Software will be repurposed strictly as a support studio or engine provider for other Microsoft properties.
For players and the broader community, this news highlights the ongoing volatility facing even the most legendary developers within major corporate portfolios. id Software is foundational to the medium, having pioneered entire genres and cutting edge proprietary tech that powers titles across the industry. Seeing a team of that caliber effectively dismantled leaves a bitter pill to swallow, reminding us that corporate restructuring often comes at the direct expense of the creative lifeblood that makes gaming great. You can read the full, original reporting over at Eurogamer.
Tags: id Software, Microsoft, Xbox, Doom, Industry News
Original article: Eurogamer