Crunch and Layoffs Hit id Software
The release of Doom: The Dark Ages - Revelationsan expansion-sized DLC, in July was closely followed by Microsoft's announcement of 3,200 staff layoffs. These significant cuts affected nearly all Xbox studio portfolios, including id Software, the developer behind the Doom series. One developer, producer Andrew Willis, who had dedicated weeks to shipping Revelations on schedule, was among those laid off just as the expansion launched.
Willis shared insights into the demanding development period, stating that for two months leading up to the release, he worked "at least 12 hours every day," with some days extending to 17 hours. He characterized this period as "brutal," noting that the majority of the game's content was created within a concentrated three to four-month timeframe. Willis emphasized that this intense effort was a team-wide commitment, with many sacrificing personal time to achieve the desired quality.
While Willis clarified that crunch was not formally mandated by the studio, he described a situation where overwhelming workloads effectively necessitated it. He explained that developers were often assigned 60 hours of work per week, leading to a "pseudo-induced crunch" where the pursuit of expected quality levels, both by players and the developers themselves, compelled extended hours. Some team members with decades of experience in Hollywood and game development reportedly considered this the most severe crunch they had encountered.
Impact on id Software's Future
The layoffs reportedly impacted id Software particularly hard, with the studio losing over half of its staff. This included key senior and long-standing personnel, many of whom were instrumental in the id Tech engine and other core development areas. The extent of these dismissals on the studio's future capabilities has sparked debate within the industry.
Co-studio director Hugo Martin has countered some concerns, asserting that the remaining team size is comparable to the one responsible for developing Doom (2016). However, Chris Hayes, a lead services provider who remains at id Software, has publicly expressed a contrasting view, suggesting it would be "impossible" to create games of Doom (2016)'s caliber with the current number of staff. This divergence of opinion highlights uncertainty regarding the studio's capacity for future projects.
For players, these developments could signal potential shifts in the scope or development timelines of future id Software titles. Revelations is confirmed as the sole add-on for Doom: The Dark Agesand the studio's next project remains undisclosed.