# Doom developer id Software reportedly cut in half after Xbox layoffs

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/doom-dev-id-software-reportedly-halved-following-xboxs-mass-layoffs/
- Published: 2026-07-10T14:39:07+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-11T12:14:02+00:00
- Original publisher: Polygon
- Original article: https://www.polygon.com/xbox-layoffs-id-software-doom/
- Topics: Art, Culture, Entertainment, Gaming, Software, Technology, TV

## Key points

- id Software reportedly lost around half its roughly 200 staff.
- Cuts followed Microsoft's move to axe 3,200 Xbox jobs.
- id may shift to a support role within Bethesda.

## Summary

Following Microsoft's announcement that it is cutting 3,200 jobs across Xbox, the legendary studio id Software — the developer behind Doom, Wolfenstein, Quake and Rage — has reportedly seen roughly half of its workforce laid off. Multiple anonymous sources told Game Developer that over 90 of its approximately 200 staff were let go, with concerns that much of the studio's renowned engineering talent may have been among those affected. The cuts matter because id has long been regarded as one of the industry's great technical pioneers, and the reduction raises questions about the studio's future direction.

Reports on the scale vary slightly: former Bethesda project lead Jeff Gardiner stated on X that 95 people were laid off, while Apogee/3D Realms founder Scott Miller claimed insider information that "most (if not all) coders" had been cut. The move appears at odds with Microsoft's stated goals, as id recently released Doom: The Dark Ages, which reached 3 million players in its first week — the studio's biggest-ever launch, aided by its debut on Game Pass. In a leaked internal email, Bethesda president Jill Braff said the company was shifting towards focusing on its "strongest franchises", prompting speculation that id may move into a support role for titles such as Fallout and Wolfenstein. Co-founder John Romero posted a message of support to those affected, praising their work in carrying forward the studio's legacy.

## Coverage

- [Polygon: Doom developer id Software reportedly cut in half after Xbox layoffs](https://www.polygon.com/xbox-layoffs-id-software-doom/)
- [The Verge: Doom developer id reportedly cut in half as part of Xbox layoffs](https://www.theverge.com/games/962223/doom-id-software-xbox-layoffs)
- [Engadget: Doom developer id Software is reportedly losing half its staff](https://www.engadget.com/2209928/doom-developer-id-software-is-reportedly-losing-half-its-staff/)

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.