Iconic Doom co-founder John Romero has spoken out following reports of significant layoffs at id Software. As part of a massive restructuring effort within Xbox, the studio behind the legendary shooter franchise has faced severe personnel cuts, with some reports indicating that nearly half of the Texas-based staff have been let go.
Romero, who co-founded the studio in 1991 alongside John Carmack, Tom Hall, and Adrian Carmack, took to X on July 7 to share his condolences. "I know what it feels like to leave id while id goes on," he wrote. "It’s a strange and painful thing to step away from a place that holds so much of your work, friendships and history."
The Impact of the Xbox Restructuring
The layoffs arrive as Xbox shifts its operational model for Bethesda, moving away from independent studio planning toward a strategy focused on its strongest intellectual properties. The impact on id Software has been profound, with employees like systems programmer Michael Maynard—who spent over 20 years at the studio—confirming his departure on LinkedIn.
"Just really sad that this is how id Software, the pioneer and innovator of FPS action games, is relegated to just another 'reorganization' of assets," Maynard wrote. The studio, which released Doom: The Dark Ages last year, now faces an uncertain future as it navigates this significant contraction.
A Plea for Historical Preservation
Beyond his support for the affected staff, Romero issued a urgent call for the industry to safeguard the studio's legacy. Romero noted that he has personally preserved the company's early history from its origins at Softdisk through August 6, 1996. This collection includes assets and materials that he believes the studio itself no longer possesses.
"I hope someone is doing the same for the company’s ongoing legacy (the work, code, assets, stories and the people behind them)," Romero stated. He confirmed that his own archive of documentation from his career is slated to be donated to The Strong National Museum of Play upon his passing.
The current situation mirrors difficulties faced by other developers under the Microsoft umbrella. Romero Games, led by John and Brenda Romero, saw its own publishing contract with Microsoft canceled during a previous round of layoffs in 2025. Reflecting on the current industry climate, Brenda Romero recently remarked that the current environment feels "crashier" than the video game industry downturn of the 1980s.