Following recent layoffs at Xbox, questions have arisen regarding the stability and future capabilities of id Software, the studio behind the Doom and Quake franchises. While some reports suggested the cuts significantly impacted the studio's capacity to develop new games and maintain its proprietary idTech engine, id Software has stated that its headcount is now comparable to the period when it developed the 2016 Doom reboot.
Studio director Hugo Martin directly addressed these concerns in a recent Slayers Club Live stream. "Reports that we've been nerfed into the ground and gutted and we have 50 people [remaining]" are inaccurate, Martin stated. He clarified that the studio's current size mirrors that of the team responsible for Doom (2016), and emphasized that the idTech engine remains active and well-supported. "We have idTech engineers both in Frankfurt and at MachineGames. We collaborate quite a bit. So the idTech is there, the Doom team is here," he said, expressing excitement for future announcements.
However, Martin's subsequent remarks, which suggested that the success of games is paramount and beneficial to everyone, including those who were laid off, have drawn some criticism. He stated, "The fact that we made a game that people like and is critically and commercially successful ... that's good for everyone. For the people at the studio, for the people who unfortunately we had to say goodbye to, I think that helps everyone." He further commented, "What matters the most is that the games are good, and I'm so happy that people—it's just a good thing for everybody."
These statements have been interpreted by some as tone-deaf, highlighting a potential disconnect between prioritizing game quality and the broader health of the industry and its workforce. Critics argue that focusing solely on successful game output overlooks the human cost and the long-term implications for the industry's stability and technological advancement. The sentiment suggests that a more holistic view, considering the well-being of developers alongside game success, is crucial for a sustainable industry.
Meanwhile, in related news, Bethesda has provided an update on its future projects, confirming a new Fallout game in development at Obsidian, remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, and that Fallout 5 is in pre-production.