Report contradicts Microsoft’s statements that id Software hasn’t been shoved onto Unreal from id Tech: ‘It’s most likely going to end up in the in the trash can’
Following Xbox's recent restructuring, id Software experienced substantial workforce reductions totaling 136 positions, prompting concerns about the future of its proprietary id Tech engine. Microsoft publicly countered speculation that the studio would be forced to abandon id Tech in favour of Unreal Engine, asserting that dozens of staff members across multiple locations remain dedicated to the technology's development and maintenance.
However, a report featuring testimony from a recently laid-off id Software employee presents a starkly different picture. The worker stated that the layoffs removed all personnel with the technical expertise necessary to maintain, repair, or modify id Tech, suggesting the engine will effectively become unusable. This account directly contradicts Microsoft's characterisation of robust ongoing support, raising questions about the accuracy of the company's public statements regarding the engine's future.
- id Software underwent 136 layoffs after Xbox's restructuring; Microsoft stated dozens remain working on id Tech engine
- A laid-off id Software worker told Game Developer that personnel capable of maintaining id Tech were eliminated, contradicting Microsoft's public assurances
- The dispute reflects tension between corporate statements and on-the-ground accounts of the engine's future viability