id Software has issued a statement clarifying the current status of the team, confirming that it’s currently as big as it was when it made Doom 2016.
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Xbox plans to lay off a total of 3,200 people over the next year. The restructuring has already led to 1,600 layoffs across all divisions, including Texas-based Bethesda subsidiary id Software. Recent reports said about half of the studio had been let go, and that id was now relegated to a support studio, but that isn’t the case.
id affirms that it still has enough people to make new games: “We still have the crew we need to build the games and tech we’re known for. The team today is about the same size we were when we made Doom 2016. We have always had a flat studio where everyone is a maker, and we will remain true to that philosophy moving forward.”
As for the next project, new reports from The Verge’s Tom Warren say that id is currently in the early development stages of a new Doom game.
Xbox has been careful and selective with its messaging around this topic while individual studios and groups are coming forward to share more about the realities of post-layoff games production.
Microsoft made these cuts as a result of multiple internal and external pressures, including mounting pressure to deliver proper returns for the expensive games that were made for Game Pass, as well as an ongoing hardware crisis that is dramatically increasing the costs of production for existing and new Xbox consoles.
Frequently Asked Questions
TweakBot answers common questions about this news using TweakTown’s own coverage from this page and related content from our archive. Tap a question to reveal the answer, or type your own below.
Question #1
Will id Software confirm a tentative release window or development timeline for the reported new Doom project? Click to reveal answer
Question #2
How will id Software’s current team size (Doom 2016 level) affect the scope and features planned for the new Doom game?
With the team reduced to about the size it was for Doom 2016, id says it still has the crew needed to build the games and technology it is known for, so the studio does not view itself as a mere support studio. That suggests the new Doom can be developed as a full game rather than a limited or support-only project, though the article gives no specific details on scope or planned features.
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Question #3
How might Microsoft’s cost and hardware pressures influence engine choice or tech decisions for id’s new Doom title?
The cost and hardware pressures could push id and Microsoft to favor existing, proven tech and cross-platform solutions that control development costs while still delivering high-end visuals, such as using idTech and PC-friendly features. Reports suggest id is already embracing ray tracing and AI upscaling like DLSS 4 and full path tracing, which can boost visual fidelity across PC and next-gen hybrid hardware while helping optimize performance and development resources (see Related 1: DOOM: The Dark Ages will launch with DLSS 4 support and full Path Tracing).
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Xbox is still planning out its next-gen Project Helix console, which is believed to be a hybrid device that plays both Xbox console and Windows PC games.