Id Software co-founder John Carmack “can’t muster anger or outrage” over Xbox gutting the Doom studio, but does say it’ll “dampen the mood of the founder reunion”
Microsoft's decision to reduce Id Software's workforce by 136 employees prompted a measured response from co-founder John Carmack, who acknowledged the human impact whilst refraining from directing anger at company leadership. Carmack, now focused on artificial intelligence development, posited that the studio likely operated as a smaller revenue generator within Microsoft's portfolio, with other franchises like Minecraft producing substantially greater returns.
Carmack argued that sustainable game development requires commercial success alongside creative acclaim, emphasising that entertainment products face significant competition for consumer attention and spending. Rather than defaulting to criticism of executive decision-making, he outlined potential alternative approaches Microsoft might have pursued—including adjusted pricing, compressed development timelines, or expanded monetisation options—whilst acknowledging genuine uncertainty about whether such measures would have improved financial outcomes.
- Microsoft laid off 136 Id Software employees; co-founder John Carmack expressed sadness but defended the decision as commercially necessary
- Carmack suggested the studio was marginally profitable relative to other Microsoft properties and proposed alternative revenue strategies rather than blaming executive incompetence