New details have emerged about the devastating layoffs at id Software, the legendary studio behind Doom, Wolfenstein, and Quake. While initial reports suggested that roughly half of the studio had been let go, updated information indicates the cuts were far more severe.
According to the latest figures, 136 employees were laid off, including 96 office workers and 40 remote staff. Based on union estimates of a 185-person workforce, that means nearly two thirds of the studio has been eliminated.
The hardest hit were the engineers responsible for developing id Tech, one of the industry's most respected game engines. Originally created by studio co-founder John Carmack, the technology continued evolving with modern features long after his departure.
Former veteran programmer Dustin Land said the visual effects team was effectively dismantled. According to him, only a handful of artists remain, with no leadership in place. Developers specializing in the Houdini procedural content creation software were also among those laid off.
«Great job, Microsoft. Nothing says successful business like destroying a team, turning it into a support studio, and throwing years of technological achievements into the trash».
GamesBeat also reports that the layoffs came shortly after id Software completed the well received Revelations expansion for DOOM: The Dark Ages and was actively experimenting with several ambitious ideas. These reportedly included a cooperative DOOM game, a robot themed survival western called Ironwood inspired by Westworld, an original action title with strong John Wick vibes, and the studio's own take on a Perfect Dark reboot intended to replace the version that was canceled after the closure of The Initiative in 2025.
According to the report, none of these concepts will move forward. The future of the revived DOOM franchise is now uncertain, and id Software itself appears to be facing one of the most difficult periods in its history.вою історію.
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