id Software Downsized to 2016 Doom Era After Xbox Layoffs

id Software is trying to put a positive spin on a brutal day. Following Xbox's sweeping layoffs that eliminated roughly half the studio's workforce—96 positions in Richardson, Texas and 40 remote roles—the legendary developer issued a statement insisting it's not in crisis mode. Instead, the studio claims it's simply returned to the staffing level it maintained when it shipped the acclaimed 2016 Doom reboot.

The cuts are part of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's broader restructuring of Microsoft's gaming division, a move that rippled across multiple studios under the Bethesda umbrella. But id Software's framing suggests the studio isn't panicking about its ability to deliver. The developer emphasized that it remains capable of creating great games and is already prototyping several potential projects, despite having nothing officially announced.

Xbox backed up that claim, confirming that dozens of people are still working on id Tech—the studio's proprietary engine—across various locations. That continuity matters. id Tech is a significant asset, and maintaining development momentum on it signals the company isn't abandoning the infrastructure that powers future projects.

Still, the comparison to 2016 Doom is a curious choice for reassurance. Yes, that game was a critical and commercial success, but it also shipped nearly a decade ago. The gaming landscape has shifted dramatically since then, and the ambitions of modern AAA projects typically demand larger teams, not smaller ones. Whether id Software can achieve similar results with a leaner roster remains an open question—one the studio will likely need to answer when it finally reveals what it's actually building.

Source: IGN