Unrealized id Software Pitches Revealed Following Microsoft Layoffs
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
A new report reveals that id Software was pitching a new Perfect Dark and a John Wick-inspired game just before severe layoffs hit the studio.
The recent industry layoffs have hit another legendary studio hard, leaving players to wonder about what could have been. According to a detailed report from Gamesbeat, id Software was actively prototyping and pitching several exciting new projects just before Microsoft cut 136 positions at the studio. Fresh off wrapping up work on the upcoming content for Doom: The Dark Ages, the team was exploring bold creative directions that included a fresh take on the classic Perfect Dark franchise and a sci-fi noir action game heavily inspired by John Wick.
That John Wick project, internally codenamed Fury, was championed by Doom director Hugo Martin and promised a stylish blend of gunplay and martial arts set against a backdrop of organized crime. Other concepts floating around the studio included a robot survival game with a distinct western aesthetic and various ideas for expanded multiplayer Doom experiences. Unfortunately, these pitches were still in the conceptual stage when the cuts arrived, leaving their futures entirely uncertain as the studio absorbs the impact of the downsizing.
While industry reports indicate that core franchises like Doom and Quake are not dead permanently, the immediate capacity of id Software to execute on ambitious new titles remains deeply concerning. When publishers make sweeping corporate cuts that target veteran developers, the real loss is the institutional knowledge and creative momentum that fuels our favorite platforms. You can read the full, original reporting over at Rock Paper Shotgun to get a deeper look at the behind the scenes reality at id Software.
Tags: id Software, Microsoft, Industry News, Doom, Perfect Dark
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun