Hugo Martin, id Software's Creative Director, has addressed recent Xbox layoffs impacting the legendary Doom developer, asserting that the studio remains robust and is not "nerfed into the ground."
Reports indicated that 96 employees in id Software's Richardson, Texas office were laid off, alongside 40 remote positions. These cuts were part of a broader restructuring within Microsoft's gaming division under new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, which has already seen 1,600 employees dismissed, with an additional 1,600 planned for the current fiscal year. Four Xbox studios have reportedly been shut down.
In response to the news, id Software stated that its current staffing level is comparable to that during the development of the 2016 Doom reboot. The studio also emphasized its continued capability to produce "great games" and pushed back against suggestions that its id Tech game engine, used by id Software and MachineGames, is no longer adequately supported. Xbox confirmed to IGN that "dozens of people working on id Tech across multiple locations" are employed, refuting earlier claims of a single engineer remaining in Texas.
During a livestream of Doom: The Dark Ages DLC, Martin directly addressed the reports, stating, "There’s been reports that we’ve been ‘nerfed into the ground’ and ‘gutted’ and we have 50 people, and that’s not true." He elaborated, "We’re the size we were when we made Doom 2016, and id Tech is very much alive and well." Martin also noted that id Tech engineers are based in Frankfurt and at MachineGames, with whom they collaborate closely. He assured that more information about upcoming projects would be shared when appropriate and approved.
Martin also commented on the commercial performance of Doom: The Dark Ages, a prequel to the 2016 Doom and 2020's Doom Eternal. He indicated that the game is meeting expectations, stating, "the fact that we made a game that people like and is critical and commercially successful — like I said, it’s doing very well related to the forecast and stuff — that’s good for everyone." He expressed gratitude for the support received, emphasizing the importance of producing quality games.
These comments from Martin come as some laid-off staff have organized protests outside Bethesda offices, including id Software's Richardson location. A "Save our Devs" rally was held outside the id Software building, part of a larger coordinated event by workers represented by the Communications Workers of America union, which is currently in negotiations with Microsoft regarding exit agreements.
Founders of id Software, John Romero and John Carmack, have also issued statements. Romero expressed support for affected employees and called for the preservation of the studio's legacy, noting the significance of franchises like Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein. Carmack, while expressing sadness over the layoffs, questioned whether the studio's games had achieved sufficient sales to avert such measures, stating he felt no "anger or outrage."
Prior to the recent layoffs, id Software was reportedly exploring new game concepts, including an original IP in the style of John Wick, a new Perfect Dark title, and a multiplayer or co-op Doom game. Tom Warren of The Verge has reported that id Software is currently focused on developing a new Doom title.