A former id Software artist has publicly criticised Microsoft over the current state of the studio behind Doom and Quake, claiming the legendary developer has been "relegated to support studio size" following Xbox's handling of its teams. The former staffer accused Microsoft's strategy of "nuking a team into the dirt" and sarcastically remarked "great job Microsoft", framing the situation as a warning about how the platform holder has managed the once-dominant first-person shooter pioneer since its acquisition.

The comments add to broader unease about Xbox's approach to its owned studios, coming amid a period of restructuring, layoffs and closures across Microsoft's gaming division. id Software, founded in 1991 and famed for defining the FPS genre, came under Microsoft's control through its purchase of ZeniMax Media, and the artist's remarks suggest concern that the studio's headcount and influence have been significantly diminished rather than strengthened under that ownership.