Prior to significant layoffs that impacted id Software, the studio was reportedly exploring several new game concepts, including a potential new entry in the Perfect Dark series and an original title inspired by the John Wick films. These discussions occurred as the developers were nearing completion of the Revelations DLC for Doom: The Dark Ages.
The report, citing sources familiar with the matter, indicates that id Software, known for its work on the Doom franchise, had begun considering pitches for its next project. Among these concepts was a revival of the Perfect Dark series, a franchise that has not seen a new installment since The Initiative's ill-fated attempt was reportedly shuttered by Microsoft last year. Concept art for this potential Perfect Dark game was said to be in development.
Another significant pitch discussed was an original game codenamed Fury. This project was reportedly spearheaded by Hugo Martin, director of Doom: The Dark Ages. Fury was envisioned as a gun fu-style game, blending intense firearms combat with martial arts. The game was described as having a sci-fi noir aesthetic, featuring narrative elements set in worlds populated by gangsters from Chicago and Louisiana. However, it had not received a greenlight prior to the recent workforce reductions.
Further concepts reportedly under consideration included a Western-themed robot survival game with themes reminiscent of Westworld, which may have been codenamed Ironwood. On the Doom front, id Software also apparently explored the possibility of further multiplayer and co-op focused Doom experiences, potentially reintroducing fan-favorite weapons from previous modern titles. Despite these discussions, a separate report suggests that the layoffs may not signal the end of the Doom, Quake, or Wolfenstein series as a whole.
The future direction for id Software remains uncertain following the layoffs, which saw a substantial number of employees depart. One former employee expressed doubts about the studio's viability moving forward, describing the situation as potentially resulting from "knee-jerk responses." It is unclear if the remaining staff will be sufficient to pursue any of these ambitious projects, or if the studio will transition into a support role for other Microsoft-owned teams. In contrast, Obsidian Entertainment, developers of Avowed, have reportedly been reassigned to focus on the Fallout franchise.