Chris Hays, a lead services programmer at id Software with over 15 years at the company, has voiced strong criticism regarding Xbox's understanding of game development and art following recent layoffs. Hays, who has worked on titles like Doom Eternal and the upcoming Doom: The Dark Ages, stated in an interview with the Well Played podcast that it is now "impossible" for id Software to create large-scale games like they have in the past with half the staff.
He detailed how the recent cuts, which saw a significant portion of the studio's workforce let go, have gutted entire departments and removed essential disciplines. Hays countered assurances from Xbox and id leadership that the studio remains capable of shipping games comparable to Doom (2016), emphasizing that "We're not the same id. We're half the same id."
Hays also suggested that id Software's management is being fed "talking points" by Xbox to reassure remaining employees and prevent further departures. He believes these statements, which claim the studio is near its Doom (2016) size, are an attempt to manage optics rather than reflect reality. "There is a reason they say close to, because it is less," Hays remarked.
Further criticizing Xbox's approach, Hays addressed the impact of the Game Pass subscription service on game sales. As all id Software titles are available day one on Game Pass due to Microsoft's ownership, he noted that the studio faces scrutiny over sales figures despite the subscription model fundamentally altering how game engagement is measured. "If you have Game Pass, are you saying poor sales means a poor number of games sold? Cause of course. [Xbox isn't] doing a ‘games sold’ business model," he explained.
Hays concluded his remarks by asserting that Xbox "fundamentally" does not understand art or video games, arguing that cutting a studio's staff by half without accounting for the impact on team cohesion demonstrates a failure to grasp what makes game development successful. In July, Xbox announced plans to lay off approximately 1,600 employees, representing about 20 percent of its total workforce, as part of a major restructuring.