“Id Tech is there, the Doom team is here”: Doom: The Dark Ages director pushes back against idea studio have been “nerfed into the ground” by Xbox layoffs
Doom: The Dark Ages director Hugo Martin has disputed reports that Id Software was severely weakened by Microsoft’s Xbox layoffs, saying the studio remains about the same size as it was when it made Doom (2016). His comments matter because 136 Id employees were reportedly laid off in the same week, while former staff and unions have raised concerns about the scale and rationale of Microsoft’s cuts.
Martin said Id’s technology group remains active, with engineers in Frankfurt and at MachineGames, and that the Doom team will continue working on future projects. He also said The Dark Ages was performing well against forecasts, though developers affected by the layoffs reportedly said Microsoft had not clearly explained which success measures their studios had missed; CWA-backed unions have since held rallies and senior departures are emerging through WARN notices.
- Id says it remains operational despite 136 reported layoffs.
- Doom: The Dark Ages is said to be meeting forecasts.
- Unions question Microsoft’s handling of the redundancies.
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