id Software, the studio behind the iconic Doom and Quake franchises, has reportedly been severely impacted by Xbox's latest wave of layoffs. The cuts come as the studio prepares to launch DLC for its newest title, Doom: The Dark Ages. Sources suggest that approximately half of id Software's staff may have been affected by this "course correction" from Xbox, which aims to eliminate 3200 jobs by the end of the fiscal year 2027.
Reports circulating on social media and gaming news outlets paint a grim picture for the storied developer. Former Bethesda project lead Jeff Gardiner stated on X that he had heard "95 at id," referencing the number of employees potentially laid off. It is understood that id Software had around 185 employees in late 2025. Scott Miller, founder of Apogee and 3D Realms, added that a substantial portion of the studio, including "most (if not all) coders," was laid off. This could represent an irreparable loss of knowledge, particularly concerning the id Tech engine, which is widely regarded as one of the premier FPS engines in the industry and a significant part of video game history.
Professionals within the industry have expressed dismay at the scale of the layoffs. Colin Geller, a principal concept artist at id Software for over 12 years who had worked on every new Doom project since 2016 as well as MachineGames' Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, shared on LinkedIn that he was among those laid off. He highlighted the "sheer amount of skill amongst the team and the exciting and intense collaboration" as a special aspect of the studio that contributed to its successful games.
These extensive cuts are happening within ZeniMax's entire division, which encompasses Bethesda's major studios. While no studios are slated for closure at this time, other ZeniMax-based teams, such as the one working on The Elder Scrolls Online, are also facing uncertainty. The timing of the layoffs, coinciding with the release of a significant DLC for Doom, has been described as particularly unsettling by observers. Digital Foundry's John Linneman also commented on the situation, stating that the disappointment is "off the charts."