Microsoft-owned publisher Bethesda (Zenimax) has confirmed heavy job losses at id Software, the legendary Texas-based studio behind DOOM and Quake, as part of a wider round of Xbox layoffs. According to filings with the Texas Workforce Commission, 136 staff were let go from id Software — 96 on-site at its Richardson office and 40 remote workers — with a further 22 cut from Bethesda Game Studios' Austin office. The cuts are significant because id is renowned for its pioneering engine and coding talent, much of which is reportedly now gone.

The reductions form part of roughly 3,200 job losses across Microsoft's gaming division — about 20% of the workforce — with 1,600 cut immediately and another 1,600 expected over the following year. Industry figures including 3D Realms founder Scott Miller and ex-Bethesda lead Jeff Gardiner suggest id has lost "most, if not all" of its coders, possibly around 95 developers or half the team, though the studio has not confirmed this. Reports also claim the proprietary id Tech engine may have been shelved, and the timing is stark as it coincides with the launch of Revelations, the first major expansion for DOOM: The Dark Ages. Bethesda says it will now focus on its biggest franchises — Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Wolfenstein, DOOM and Quake.