Id Software confirms layoffs reduced the team to its size 'when making D…

Id Software confirms layoffs reduced the team to its size 'when making DOOM (2016)'

Id Software, the developer behind the iconic DOOM franchise, has officially addressed the recent sweeping layoffs initiated by Microsoft and Xbox. The studio confirmed on July 10, 2026, that its workforce has been reduced to the size it maintained during the development of DOOM (2016). This reduction comes amid a broader organizational "reset" led by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, which involves cutting 3,200 roles across the brand, with 1,600 positions terminated immediately and another 1,600 slated for elimination over the next 12 months.

Reports detailing the impact on id Software indicate that roughly half of the studio's personnel were affected. A WARN notice filed in Texas confirmed 96 job losses at the studio's Richardson headquarters, while industry reports identify approximately 40 remote roles that were also eliminated. The cuts significantly impacted the team responsible for the id Tech engine, a technology used for DOOM as well as other ZeniMax-owned projects, including the Wolfenstein games and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

In an official statement shared on social media, id Software expressed gratitude for fan support and sought to reassure the community regarding the studio's future. We still have the crew we need to build the games and tech we're known for, the statement noted, adding that the studio intends to maintain its flat studio philosophy. The developers affirmed they would continue work on both games and proprietary technology, noting that the team remains committed to appearing at QuakeCon this August.

The layoffs have drawn reactions from industry veterans, including id Software co-founders. John Carmack, currently heading Keen Technologies, remarked that while he found it difficult to find something meaningful to say, he suspected the studio may have been viewed as a marginal business by Microsoft. Carmack suggested that games must succeed in a brutal competitive market and noted, I don't think there is any obvious path that would have doubled the revenue from Id games. He conceded, however, that the situation would dampen the mood of the founder reunion at the upcoming QuakeCon.

John Romero, co-founder of id Software, shared his perspective on the impact to the studio, acknowledging the pain of departing a team that holds deep personal history. The people at id have done a great job moving that legacy forward. DOOM, Quake, and Wolfenstein are not easy names to carry on, especially in today's industry, Romero stated. He emphasized the importance of digital preservation, expressing concern for the future of the studio's accumulated assets, code, and stories. Romero noted that he had personally preserved the early history of id Software from its inception through August 6, 1996.

Internal sentiment at the studio has been characterized by shock and frustration. Gameplay animator Skai Chow criticized those who labeled the layoffs a necessary move, highlighting that this is the latest in a series of reductions across Microsoft and Xbox. Another veteran, systems programmer Michael Maynard, who was among those laid off, reflected on the studio's history of engine development, stating, We produced arguably THE BEST first person action games, in the entire industry. DOOM, DOOM:Eternal, DOOM: The Dark Ages.

While the future of specific projects remains unconfirmed, id Software is moving forward following the July 7, 2026, release of the Revelations DLC for DOOM: The Dark Ages. The studio’s statement insists that it remains focused on building the high-quality games and technology that have defined its legacy for the past 35 years.