Id Software Faces Layoffs but Maintains Optimism Post-Cuts
- Id Software lost approximately 136 employees amid Microsoft’s gaming division layoffs.
- Co-studio director Marty Stratton assures that the studio remains viable and is collaborating closely with MachineGames.
- The future of Id Software’s next project remains unclear, while MachineGames hints at continuing the Wolfenstein series.
Id Software, the legendary developer known for titles such as Doom and Quake, was significantly affected by Microsoft’s recent business restructuring led by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. Earlier this year, around 136 employees were reportedly laid off as part of broader changes within Microsoft’s gaming division.
In light of these layoffs, Id Software’s co-studio director, Marty Stratton, spoke about the current state of the company and its resilience after the cuts. “We’re doing great,” he reaffirmed during a recent event (via IGN). He acknowledged the substantial impact of the layoffs, stating, “Not to handwave the [layoffs] away… everybody knows we had about half of our studio exit as part of that,” and emphasized the deliberate effort to ensure the studio’s ongoing viability across all operations, including game development and technology.
This sentiment aligns with previous statements from Hugo Martin, the other co-studio head, who countered claims that the studio had been irreparably harmed, asserting that the remaining team is comparable in size to that during the production of Doom (2016) and noted that id Tech is “very much alive and well.”
The layoffs were part of a broader initiative within Microsoft’s gaming division, which is set to result in a total of 3,200 job eliminations, with additional cuts anticipated. The initial wave of layoffs in July affected teams working on id Software’s id Tech engine, which powers the studio’s games and is recognized for its performance and efficiency.
Following the layoffs, concerns arose regarding the future of id Tech, with long-serving programmer Chris Hays suggesting that creating AAA titles under the current circumstances could be “impossible” given the reduced workforce and the disappearance of “entire departments” and “entire disciplines.”
While Stratton did not specifically address Hays’ comments, he did reveal that Id Software is “working more closely than ever” with MachineGames, the Swedish studio responsible for the modern iterations of Wolfenstein and the upcoming Indiana Jones game. Stratton expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We’ve always had a very close partnership with [MachineGames]… and we’re really on an amazing path that had started pre-[layoffs].”
He added that both teams are optimistic about their future endeavors, clarifying that the collaboration had initiated earlier in the year. The details surrounding Id Software’s next project are currently unclear, whereas MachineGames has indicated it is not finished with the Wolfenstein franchise, suggesting the potential for a sequel to 2017’s The New Colossus.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
