id Software Director Denies Xbox Cuts Gutted Doom Maker
▼ Summary
– id Software co-studio director Hugo Martin denies reports that the studio has been “nerfed into the ground” by Xbox layoffs, stating the team is the same size as when it made Doom 2016.
– Legal documents indicated id Software lost nearly three-quarters of its 185-person staff in layoffs, reducing the workforce to 49, which employees described as “a bloodbath.”
– Martin claims id Tech is “very much alive and well,” noting engineers are also located in Frankfurt and at MachineGames for collaboration.
– Martin expressed hope to complete the Doom origin story up to the sarcophagus seen at the start of Doom 2016, linking timelines from Doom: The Dark Ages.
– The Doom livestream celebrated the Revelations expansion for Doom: The Dark Ages, which adds a new Chain Spear melee weapon and increases movement speed.
Contrary to swirling rumors of catastrophic downsizing, id Software leadership is pushing back hard against claims that Microsoft’s sweeping Xbox layoffs have left the legendary studio in ruins. Co-studio director Hugo Martin directly addressed the speculation during a recent Bethesda-hosted livestream for Doom: The Dark Ages, insisting that reports of the team being gutted are simply inaccurate.
Legal documents had previously suggested that id Software lost nearly three-quarters of its 185-person staff, slashing the roster to just 49 employees. Former insiders described the cuts as “a bloodbath,” fueling concerns that the Doom and Quake creator would be reduced to a mere support studio for Xbox, incapable of developing its own ambitious titles. The apparent departure of numerous id Tech engineers also sparked fears for the future of the studio’s proprietary engine.
Martin, however, was unequivocal in his denial. “There’s been reports that we’ve been nerfed into the ground and gutted and we have 50 people, and that’s not true,” he stated. “We’re the size we were when we made Doom 2016, and id Tech is very much alive and well.” He explained that the engine’s engineering team now spans across Frankfurt and includes staff at MachineGames, emphasizing a collaborative structure rather than a depleted one. “So id Tech is there, the Doom team is here, and we’re excited to share with you guys more of what we’re working on in the future when it is appropriate and approved.”
The studio’s social media account echoed this sentiment recently, asserting that “we still have the crew we need to build the games.” For context, approximately 75 people are credited on Doom 2016, but that game launched nearly a decade ago. The scale and budget of modern Doom titles have ballooned significantly since then, raising a legitimate question: can a team of that size still deliver a blockbuster experience in 2026 and beyond?
Despite the uncertainty, Martin offered a tantalizing glimpse of the studio’s ambitions. “The door is open to be able to , I would love to be able to complete the Doom origin story all the way up to the sarcophagus,” he remarked. That sarcophagus is the one seen at the start of Doom 2016, where the Doom Slayer awakens. Since Doom: The Dark Ages explored the Slayer’s origins, Martin’s hope is to eventually link the timelines together into a cohesive narrative.
The livestream itself celebrated the recent Revelations expansion for Doom: The Dark Ages, which launched last week. This update injects more speed and fluid movement into the game, bringing it closer to the frenetic pace of Doom Eternal. A new Chain Spear melee weapon is central to this shift, offering extensive upgrade and customization options that can dramatically alter gameplay.
Id Software is just one of many studios caught in Microsoft’s ongoing restructuring wave. While 1,600 jobs have already been cut and several studios have separated from Xbox, another 1,600 layoffs are scheduled between now and next summer. This prolonged period of reorganization has left the entire Xbox division in a state of flux, but for now, id Software is signaling that its core mission remains intact.
(Source: Eurogamer.net)
