Doom developer id Software is reportedly cutting around 50 per cent of its staff as part of the mass layoffs Microsoft announced on Monday, which primarily target Xbox and its games studios. According to Game Developer, this could amount to roughly 90 job losses at the storied first-person shooter studio, though the affected departments remain unclear. The cuts matter because id Software is one of gaming's most influential studios, and the scale of the reduction signals how deeply Microsoft's restructuring is reshaping its games division.

Neither Microsoft nor id Software has formally confirmed the layoffs, but a former staff member echoed the 50 per cent figure on LinkedIn. id Software is unionised with the Communications Workers of America, which accused Microsoft of "slow-walking" contract negotiations and said it would demand immediate bargaining over fair severance. The cuts follow Bloomberg's report that parent company ZeniMax will refocus on its biggest franchises, including Doom, Fallout and The Elder Scrolls. Microsoft eliminated 1,600 roles in this round and plans to cut a further 1,600 over the coming months.