John Romero has commented on the layoffs which have impacted Microsoft-owned id Software as a part of sweeping cuts to the Xbox enterprise.
Yesterday, Microsoft gaming boss Asha Sharma introduced essentially the most “important” restructure in Xbox historical past, with 1,600 employees let go instantly, and one other 1,600 employees to observe over the course of the present monetary yr. As a part of the restructure, 4 studios are leaving Xbox to new administration, and one is now in session over its future.
ZeniMax Media, which operates Bethesda, was hit arduous by the layoffs. ZeniMax On-line Studios has suffered important cuts, forcing the remaining builders of The Elder Scrolls On-line to rethink future content material. And id Software can be closely affected. The developer of Doom has misplaced 95 employees, according to former Bethesda Studios project lead Jeff Gardiner. Amongst them is principal character artist Denzil O’Neill, who labored on Doom The Darkish Ages, Doom Everlasting, and Doom over the course of 12 years on the studio. The Doom The Darkish Ages growth comes out this week.
Romero, co-founder of id Software and the designer of Doom, Wolfenstein 3D, and Quake, took to social media to supply affected employees his assist, and to name on the studio’s current legacy to be preserved.
“I’m so sorry for everybody at id Software affected by these layoffs,” Romero tweeted.
“I do know what it seems like to go away id whereas id goes on. It’s an odd and painful factor to step away from a spot that holds a lot of your work, friendships and historical past.
“The individuals at id have executed an amazing job transferring that legacy ahead. DOOM, Quake, and Wolfenstein usually are not straightforward names to hold on, particularly in at present’s business. The previous couple of video games confirmed actual care, ability and respect for what these worlds imply to individuals.
“A notice on digital preservation: id’s historical past is critically necessary to the historical past of video games. I’ve preserved id’s full early historical past from our begin at Softdisk by to August 6, 1996, together with supplies and belongings that, so far as I do know, id itself not has. I hope somebody is doing the identical for the corporate’s ongoing legacy (the work, code, belongings, tales and the individuals behind them).
“I’m considering of everybody at id at present, and everybody else affected by yesterday’s layoffs. Romero Video games was there a yr in the past. I understand how devastating it’s, and my coronary heart’s with all of you.”
That’s a reference to final yr’s cancelation of Romero Video games’ shooter after Microsoft reportedly pulled funding as a part of layoffs in July 2025. (This was the spherical of layoffs that included the cancelation of Uncommon’s Everwild and The Initiative’s Excellent Darkish reboot.) Romero Video games didn’t shut, and the Romeros assured followers they had been “evaluating alternatives” from publishers that had been in contact because the funding points had been introduced, however little or no was identified in regards to the sport apart from it was a first-person shooter.
In the meantime, the way forward for id Software stays unclear. MachineGames has survived the cull, with a brand new Wolfenstein sport just about an open secret at this level. Might what stays of id Software be put to work supporting its improvement, or maybe serving to one other studio make a brand new Fallout sport?
Sharma has made it clear that Xbox needs to double down on its largest franchises. Bethesda boss Jill Braff has instructed employees a lot the identical. With out naming video games, Braff stated “to finest place Bethesda for future progress, we’re shifting from a planning mannequin primarily centered on what’s subsequent for every unbiased studio to 1 that focuses on our strongest franchises and figuring out the content material roadmap that finest serves our gamers and Bethesda as a complete.”
“From there, we’ll align the correct expertise, know-how, and assets throughout the group to ship on these priorities,” Braff added. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier has said that Bethesda will proceed to work on Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake alongside The Elder Scrolls and Fallout.
Picture by Borja B. Hojas/Getty Pictures for SDCCMalaga.
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You may attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.