Microsoft says id Software still has sufficient staff to make games and maintain its idTech engine after major layoffs, but a former employee disputes this, claiming the cuts removed the people able to develop or repair the technology. The disagreement matters because idTech underpins id Software’s games, including its fast-paced shooters, and its loss could increase the industry’s reliance on Epic’s Unreal Engine.

The reported cuts affected 136 people, roughly half of id Software’s workforce, including five VFX staff, according to the former employee. Microsoft’s Xbox division reportedly laid off 1,600 people in the same period, with another 1,600 reductions anticipated; critics fear the resulting loss of specialist knowledge could leave idTech unsupported. The article also notes concerns that wider adoption of Unreal Engine 5 could bring performance challenges, less distinctive visual design and greater dependence on one supplier.