id Software, the storied game developer behind franchises like Doom and Quake, has been significantly impacted by recent layoffs at Xbox, with reports indicating that roughly half of the studio's staff has been affected, including a substantial portion of the QA department. This news has drawn a somber response from id Software co-founder John Romero.
Romero took to social media to share his condolences with those impacted by the workforce reductions. "I'm so sorry for everyone at id Software affected by these layoffs," he wrote. "I know what it feels like to leave id while id goes on. It's a strange and painful thing to step away from a place that holds so much of your work, friendships and history." Romero himself departed id Software in the mid-1990s under difficult circumstances.
Despite his personal history with the studio, Romero acknowledged the current team's efforts in maintaining the legacy of id Software's iconic game series. "The last few games showed real care, skill and respect for what those worlds mean to people," he stated, recognizing the challenges of carrying such renowned names as Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein in the contemporary industry.
Drawing a parallel to recent industry trends, such as the planned discontinuation of physical PlayStation discs, Romero expressed a strong hope that measures are being taken to preserve id Software's historical output. "id's history is critically important to the history of games," he asserted. He revealed that he has personally preserved the studio's early history from its origins at Softdisk up to August 1996, including materials and assets that he believes the company no longer possesses.
Romero also shared his plans for these archival materials, stating in a follow-up post that it is his intention to donate all collected assets, including digital files, to the Strong Museum of Play. He concluded by reiterating his sympathy for all those affected by the recent layoffs, drawing from his own experience of leaving id Software a year prior. "I know how devastating it is, and my heart's with all of you," he said.