Latest Gaming News: id Software Cuts After Xbox Layoffs

The fallout from Xbox’s newest wave of layoffs is still unfolding, with affected teams now trying to regroup and move forward. For id Software, though, the situation appears especially severe: reports indicate the studio may have shed as much as three-quarters of its workforce, leaving a major question hanging over what comes next.

Now, a fresh report adds sharper detail on how those cuts have reshaped id Software internally. One of the most striking claims is that the studio has lost a longtime member of its ranks—someone who worked there during the era when Doom’s original creators, John Carmack and John Romero, were involved.

id Software’s Layoffs Hit a Long-Serving Veteran

In the report, the employee is identified only as “employee number 13.” The person is described as one of the longest-tenured individuals at the studio. A separate former worker, also speaking without a name, says that person is no longer employed.

The impact isn’t limited to staffing, either. Multiple comments point to a deeper concern: that id Software’s proprietary id Tech engine may no longer be supported in any meaningful way.

One anonymous former employee claims the studio removed the people most capable of fixing, maintaining, or modifying the engine. Their view is blunt: “They’ve just gotten rid of all the people who could ever fix, maintain, or change [id Tech], so it’s most likely going to end up in the trash can.” They add that it has become increasingly clear, in their eyes, that job security no longer tracks performance or success, arguing the disconnect is “basically provable.”

id Software’s own social media statement attempted to counter these fears. It claimed the current team is around the same size as it was during the development of Doom (2016), and that the studio is looking ahead to building “great games and tech.”

Why the “Same Team Size” Claim Is Being Challenged

The newer reporting pushes back against the idea that the studio can simply return to its prior rhythm. One source says that the “majority” of staff who recently worked on the Revelations DLC for Doom: The Dark Ages were among those let go. In other words, the studio’s situation is portrayed as too compromised to operate the way it once did.

This is presented as especially concerning because the DLC received positive reactions, and the main game reportedly reached millions of players. Despite that, the account suggests that commercial and critical momentum did not protect employees from Xbox’s restructuring decisions.

What Players Should Watch Next

At this point, id Software’s future direction remains uncertain. Xbox has more layoffs planned later this year—an additional 1,600 job cuts are expected across the company. Given the scale of what has already happened at id Software, it may be difficult for further reductions to avoid directly affecting the studio’s ability to produce games.

Reported workforce losses at id Software appear large enough to change how the studio can operate day-to-day.
Concerns extend beyond headcount, with claims that id Tech maintenance and evolution may be at risk.
id Software’s response about team size and upcoming work is being disputed by accounts tied to Doom-related DLC staffing.
Even positive reception and strong player numbers are not being shown as safeguards against staffing cuts.
With more Xbox-wide layoffs expected later this year, the next chapter for id Software may depend on how staffing needs align with ongoing development.