This week marks the launch of Doom: The Dark Ages Revelations, an expansion for the latest entry in the franchise. While the title showcases the capabilities of id Tech 8—the latest iteration of the engine—it may also be one of the last games to utilize the technology. Following Microsoft’s announcement of 3,200 layoffs and the offloading of five studios, the scale of the impact on the Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein creator is coming into focus.
A Significant Workforce Reduction
Reports from Game Developer indicate that approximately 50% of id Software’s staff were let go during the recent round of cuts. The situation appears particularly severe regarding the studio’s technical infrastructure. Scott Miller, founder of 3D Realms, has stated that information from those familiar with the situation suggests most, if not all, of id Software’s coders have been made redundant. Additionally, former Bethesda Game Studios project lead Jeff Gardiner has independently claimed that 85 developers were cut from the studio.
These cuts arrive despite the technical prestige of id Tech. The engine has long been a foundation for high-performance gaming, powering titles that balance complex visual features like ray-traced global illumination with scalability—even allowing titles like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Doom to run on the Nintendo Switch or Switch 2.
The Future of Proprietary Tech Under Microsoft
The reduction of talent at id Software raises questions about the long-term viability of the engine. Microsoft has already moved away from other proprietary tech, such as the Slipspace Engine used by 343 Industries for Halo Infinite, in favor of Unreal Engine for future projects. It is possible that id Tech could face a similar fate, potentially forcing studios like MachineGames—currently reported to be working on a third Wolfenstein title—to adopt external solutions for future games.
Maintaining proprietary engines is a costly endeavor, and the industry has seen a broader trend of studios shifting toward Epic Games’ Unreal Engine. With fewer proprietary engines currently in development, Microsoft is left with only a handful of unique technologies under its umbrella, including the ForzaTech engine used for Forza Horizon and the upcoming Fable, and the Creation Engine powering titles like Starfield and The Elder Scrolls.
As Microsoft prepares to launch Project Helix as soon as 2027, the retreat from specialized, proprietary technology risks undermining the company's ability to showcase its hardware capabilities. By draining the talent responsible for pushing these technical frontiers, the recent cuts may limit the potential advancements in the games that define the platform's future.