id Software, one of the most iconic names in the first person genre with groundbreaking titles such as Doom and Quake, has received some of the heaviest losses in the ongoing ‘Reset’ process from Xbox, resulting in a total of 136 out of 185 employees being let go from the studio which has also amounted to the loss of over 70% of id Software’s overall workforce. The severe reduction in employee numbers have led to fears that the legendary developer may not be able to make any new titles but according to a recent report from Windows Central, it’s objectively untrue.
Jez Corben of Windows Central has stated the following on id Software’s current headcount:
“The other rumor flying around is that id Software has shrunk to a headcount that is untenable for future self-made products, relegating them to “support studio” status. This too, is false.
While the cuts have been alarmingly callous, my understanding is that the remaining id Software core team is roughly the same as it was when DOOM (2016) shipped. DOOM (2016) is arguably the studio’s best-ever game in my view, despite the comparatively smaller headcount that produced it. That’s not too suggest in any capacity that we should expect the same quality bar without proof … Microsoft removed mountains of incredible talent from the pool.”
Also, another rumor had surfaced that with most of id Software’s devs gone, Microsoft may shift the studio to use Unreal Engine instead of the older but still perfectly capable id Tech engine and according to Windows Central, those concerns aren’t true as well.
“There are dozens of people working on id Tech across multiple locations. Reports that there’s only one person left in Texas are inaccurate.”
This means the id Tech engine is fully alive and well, and would be used in future projects from the studio so no worries there.
It has been known that prior to the layoffs, id software was reportedly toying with ideas for several projects which included a John Wick-inspired title, a new Perfect Dark game and more.
