Xbox confirms there isn’t just “1 person left in Texas” working on id Software’s engine following mass layoffs, but “dozens” across “multiple locations”
Xbox has moved to reassure fans over the future of id Software's technology following a wave of mass layoffs across Microsoft's gaming division. The company confirmed that development of id Tech, the engine behind franchises such as Doom, is not being left to a skeleton crew, directly rebutting reports that only a single person remained in Texas to maintain it. Instead, Xbox says "dozens" of staff continue to work on the engine across "multiple locations", an attempt to calm concerns about the technology's long-term support.
The clarification comes amid broader anxiety about Microsoft's recent cuts to its gaming workforce, which have prompted speculation about the fate of individual studios and their in-house tools. id Software, the Texas-based developer long associated with pioneering first-person shooters, uses id Tech to power its recent releases, and worries had emerged that the engine team had been gutted to almost nothing. Xbox's statement pushes back on the "1 person left in Texas" characterisation while acknowledging the work is now spread across several sites rather than concentrated in one place.
Explained simply
id Tech is a software engine used to power video games, created by id Software, a developer based in Texas. Game engines are the technical foundation that developers build upon to create their products, handling elements like graphics and gameplay physics.
id Software is famous for pioneering first-person shooter games, most notably the Doom franchise, which rely on id Tech to function. These are long-running series with large player bases, so the engine's continued support is important to both the company and its players.
Microsoft, which owns id Software, recently carried out mass layoffs across its gaming division, raising questions about whether the engine's development team had been severely reduced. Concerns emerged that id Tech might be left with minimal ongoing support and resources.
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