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Doom’s new expansion shows just what makes id Software special
The week that should have marked a triumph for Doom developer id Software has instead been marred by heavy job cuts, even as the studio launched Revelations, a substantial expansion for Doom: The Dark Ages. The article argues that the timing is bitterly ironic, because Revelations demonstrates precisely the qualities that have made id one of gaming's most distinctive studios. The expansion adds a powerful new weapon and further demonic levels, refining the fast-paced, unrelenting shooter formula that has defined modern Doom.
The layoffs came as part of Xbox's mass redundancies and strategic "reset", with figures varying by source: GamesBeat reports at least 92 of 185 full-time staff (around half the studio) were cut, while a Texas WARN notice cited 96 losses at the Richardson office plus 40 remote workers. Sources told Kotaku the team behind id's proprietary id Tech engine may be down to a single employee. Revelations itself trims some of The Dark Ages' extraneous features and introduces a versatile new spear for The Slayer, alongside returning enemies, arena battles and a driving metal soundtrack. The studio's future is uncertain, with reported ideas including a multiplayer or co-op Doom, a John Wick-style game and a new Perfect Dark, though any such project would now begin from a weakened position.
In short
- id Software launched a strong Doom expansion, Revelations, this week.
- Around half of id's staff were cut in Xbox layoffs.
- The studio's future projects and direction now look uncertain.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The timing of these layoffs is particularly damaging because Revelations demonstrates that id Software retains the creative excellence and technical mastery that has always defined the studio. Cutting roughly half the workforce, including reportedly reducing the proprietary engine team to a single employee, will severely cripple the studio's ability to develop future projects of comparable quality. The article's central point is compelling: the company has eliminated precisely the talent it should be investing in, at the moment when that talent has just proven itself.
The case against
Whilst the expansion is undoubtedly well-crafted, a single successful release, however impressive, cannot justify maintaining a large workforce if broader financial and operational metrics indicate structural unsustainability. Microsoft's decision-makers have access to financial data, pipeline information and strategic assessments that the public does not see. Painful restructuring can be necessary for long-term viability, and even talented studios must eventually demonstrate they can generate sufficient returns to justify their ongoing costs. The layoffs, though unfortunate, may represent unavoidable business reality rather than short-sighted mismanagement.
Explained simply
Id Software is a pioneering game developer best known for creating the first-person shooter genre and the Doom franchise, one of gaming's most culturally significant series. The studio has built a distinctive reputation over three decades for making mechanically refined, fast-paced games that prioritise clarity and player control. These qualities have made id influential far beyond commercial success, shaping how games are designed and understood across the industry.
Doom remains the studio's flagship franchise, and id Software continues to develop new entries and expansions that refine the series' core approach to action gameplay. The studio operates as part of Xbox, Microsoft's gaming division, and like much of the gaming industry has faced significant economic pressures and restructuring. Understanding what has made id Software distinctive is essential for recognising its significance within gaming and its relevance to current industry discussions.
Id Software's reputation fundamentally rests on a particular design philosophy: games should emphasise mechanical precision, fast-paced action, and immediate satisfying feedback to the player. This vision emerged in the studio's earliest work and has remained consistent through decades of technological change and evolving industry trends. The consistency of this creative approach has made id Software influential not just as a commercial entity but as a shaping force in how games are designed and understood.