Doom developer id Software reportedly cut in half after Xbox layoffs
Developed over time first seen 4 months ago
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.
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In short
- 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.
How this story developed
- 3 months ago Fresh source claims have sharpened the reported cuts at id Software, with former Bethesda project lead Jeff Gardiner stating on X that 95 people were laid off and Apogee founder Scott Miller citing insider information that most if not all of the studio's coders were let go, a blow that strikes at the Doom maker's identity as a coding pioneer following Microsoft's 3,200 Xbox job cuts and despite Doom: The Dark Ages becoming id's biggest-ever launch.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Large corporations must make difficult restructuring decisions to maintain financial discipline, regardless of short-term performance metrics. Successful studios often have redundancies and overlapping roles that can be eliminated through consolidation and optimised resource allocation. Microsoft's restructuring reflects necessary cost management and strategic planning across its gaming portfolio, particularly important in an economically challenging industry environment.
The case against
Cutting roughly half of id Software's workforce immediately after its greatest-ever launch appears strategically destructive. The studio is among gaming's most technically prestigious, and losing experienced engineers undermines Microsoft's long-term competitive advantage at precisely the moment when the franchise has proven its modern relevance and commercial viability. The move contradicts the company's stated priority of strengthening its 'strongest franchises' and risks converting a resurgent studio into a support operation.
Explained simply
Doom, Wolfenstein, Quake and Rage: these are the flagship games made by id Software, one of gaming's most influential studios, credited with pioneering the first-person shooter genre decades ago. Id is owned by Bethesda, which in turn is owned by Microsoft, following Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda's parent company in 2021. Microsoft also owns Xbox, and has been running its games division as part of that wider business.
Microsoft recently announced it is cutting 3,200 jobs across its Xbox division, part of a broader pattern of layoffs the company has made in gaming over the past couple of years. These cuts affect various studios under the Xbox umbrella, of which id Software is one. The scale and detail of how individual studios have been affected is not always officially confirmed by Microsoft, so much of what is known comes from reports, leaks and comments from current or former industry figures.
This story matters because id Software is seen as a technically important studio within the games industry, and any major loss of staff, particularly engineers, could affect its ability to keep making and supporting games. It is also notable because it follows the successful launch of id's latest title, Doom: The Dark Ages, raising questions about why cuts would follow a strong release. John Romero, one of id's original co-founders, is a well-known figure in gaming history and no longer works at the studio, but has spoken publicly about the situation.
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Originally published by Polygon as “Doom dev id Software reportedly halved following Xbox’s mass layoffs”.