John Romero, co-founder and original designer of Doom, has shared his condolences for employees impacted by recent layoffs at id Software, a studio currently undergoing significant restructuring within Xbox. Amidst the "heartbreak," Romero also issued a plea for the diligent preservation of the iconic game developer's historical contributions.
"I’m so sorry for everyone at id Software affected by these layoffs," Romero wrote on X on July 7. He reflected on the difficulty of leaving a place that holds so much of one's work, friendships, and history, acknowledging the immense pressure of carrying the legacies of franchises like Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein. He noted that recent games from the studio have demonstrated "real care, skill and respect" for these established worlds.
Romero then emphasized the critical importance of digital preservation for id Software's history, stating that the studio's past is vital to the broader history of gaming. He revealed that he has personally preserved the entirety of id Software's early history, from its inception at Softdisk through August 1996, including materials and assets that he believes the studio no longer possesses. He expressed hope that similar efforts are underway to safeguard the company's ongoing legacy, encompassing its work, code, assets, stories, and the people behind them.
The message arrives as reports suggest substantial cutbacks at the Texas-based studio, with some sources indicating that approximately half of the team may have been laid off. Former Bethesda Game Studios lead Jeff Gardiner has suggested the number could be as high as 95. Michael Maynard, a systems programmer who had been with id Software since 2005 and worked on titles ranging from RAGE to Doom: The Dark Ages, confirmed his departure as part of a team comprising roughly 50% of the company. He expressed sadness that id Software, a pioneer in FPS action games, is being reduced to "just another ‘reorganization’ of assets."
These layoffs at id Software coincide with a broader strategic shift at Xbox, which is reportedly moving away from the independent operational models of its studios towards a greater emphasis on its most successful franchises. Bethesda boss Jill Braff communicated this shift to staff, stating that the company is transitioning from a planning model focused on individual studios to one that prioritizes its strongest franchises and develops a content roadmap to best serve players and Bethesda as a whole.
Founded in 1991 by Romero, John Carmack, Tom Hall, and Adrian Carmack, id Software has a storied history. Its early days have been documented in books such as "Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture" and Romero's own "Doom Guy: Life in First Person." Romero Games, John Romero's subsequent studio, reportedly lost its publishing contract with Microsoft during major layoffs in 2025. Brenda Romero, a co-founder of Romero Games, commented earlier this year that the current industry climate feels "definitely crashier" than the crash of the 1980s.
John Romero has stated in his will that all documentation he has saved from id Software and other past endeavors will be donated to The Strong National Museum of Play upon his death.