Recent reports regarding the latest round of Xbox layoffs have revealed a significant loss for id Software. According to details shared by Game Developer, the studio has parted ways with one of its longest-serving staff members—a developer who had been with the company since the early 1990s, working alongside industry icons John Carmack and John Romero.
Quick Facts
- The laid-off employee is identified in reports as "employee number 13."
- Reports indicate id Software has lost up to 75 percent of its workforce.
- The layoffs include staff who recently worked on the Doom: The Dark Ages 'Revelations' DLC.
The departure of this veteran developer is part of a broader reduction at the studio. Sources speaking with Game Developer suggest that id Software has lost up to 75 percent of its total workforce. This comes despite the recent commercial success of Doom: The Dark Ages, which reached millions of players, and the positive critical reception of its latest DLC.
Beyond the loss of historical expertise, former employees are raising alarms about the future of the studio's internal technology. According to those familiar with the situation, the departure of key personnel has left the proprietary id Tech engine in a precarious position. "They've just gotten rid of all the people who could ever fix, maintain, or change [id Tech], so it's most likely going to end up in the trash can," one anonymous former employee stated.
While id Software issued a statement on social media claiming the team remains roughly the same size as it was during the development of Doom (2016), and that the studio remains committed to creating "great games and tech," the internal reports contest the stability of the current setup. With a further 1,600 layoffs expected across Xbox later this year, the future of the studio's development capabilities remains a point of concern for those observing the industry.