id Software has issued a statement addressing concerns about its future following significant layoffs that impacted the studio. The company confirmed that while changes occurred, it still possesses the core team required to develop its signature games and proprietary idTech engine. According to an official post on X, the studio's current team size is comparable to when it was developing DOOM (2016).
These assurances come in the wake of Microsoft's broader layoffs across Xbox studios, which saw 136 employees, more than half of id Software's staff, depart shortly before the release of its Doom: The Dark Ages expansion. This reduction led to speculation among remaining and former employees regarding the studio's ability to continue its ambitious projects and engine development.
One former employee expressed concern, stating, "Nothing says business success like nuking a team into the dirt and relegating them to support studio size while also throwing out massive technological achievements." The official statement from id Software aims to counter this sentiment.
The studio reiterated its commitment to supporting affected team members and continuing its legacy. "We're going to keep building the great games and tech that have defined us for the past 35 years, and we're looking forward to seeing you at QuakeCon this August," the statement read. Reports suggest that id Software will not be compelled to switch to Unreal Engine in the immediate future and will continue work on its own id Tech engine. Despite these reassurances, the studio's current size, matching that of a decade ago, has led to commentary suggesting potential challenges for future large-scale, high-fidelity game development, which typically requires larger teams than in the past.