Romero Games' New Shooter Gets the Axe: Microsoft Cuts Leave Devs Job Hunting
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Romero Games lost funding for their upcoming shooter due to Microsoft's layoffs, resulting in staff being let go. It's a proper kick in the teeth for the studio and a stark reminder of the industry's volatility.
Bloody hell, this industry, eh? Just when you think you've seen it all, something like this crops up. Word on the street (well, Twitter, mostly) is that Romero Games, co-founded by the legendary John Romero of *Doom* fame and Brenda Romero, has lost funding for their next, as-yet-unannounced shooter. And to add insult to injury, it seems a whole bunch of staff have been let go as a result of those pesky Microsoft cuts everyone's been dreading.
According to a statement released by Romero Games themselves, the publisher (who remains nameless, shrouded in mystery like a final boss reveal) pulled the plug on the project. Brenda Romero stated that the decision came from way up high, well beyond their control. It wasn't a reflection of the team's performance, mind you. Apparently, they were nailing every milestone and getting rave reviews internally. So, what gives? Probably just corporate shenanigans, if I had to guess.
Now, the internet's buzzing with former Romero Games devs sharing the news of their job losses. We're talking UI artists, character artists, producers – the whole shebang. Ana Mitrovic, a former UI artist, put it bluntly: "The mass Microsoft layoff effectively cancelled funding for Romero Games and as a result the whole team was laid off." Ouch. That's gotta sting more than a cyberdemon's rocket launcher to the face.
Romero Games is putting on a brave face, saying they're "currently evaluating next steps" and trying to support their team. John Romero himself took to social media to express his disappointment, calling his team "the best people I've ever worked with." Fair dinkum, you hate to see it.
This whole situation raises a bigger question: What's the deal with these constant industry layoffs? Is it just the natural ebb and flow of the gaming tide, or is something more sinister going on? Perhaps the suits are sacrificing creativity at the altar of shareholder value. Whatever the reason, it's a bloody shame to see talented developers lose their jobs, especially when they're working on something that sounds genuinely promising. Hopefully, the team lands on their feet soon, and we get to see what they were cooking up. Now that would be a plot twist I can get behind.
Tags: Romero Games, Layoffs, Microsoft, Game Development, Industry News
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun