Microsoft’s ongoing cost-reduction push has cut deeply into id Software, the storied development house behind the DOOM series. In accounts shared with GamesBeat and Insider Gaming, a former employee described the round of layoffs as a “bloodbath.” The cuts reportedly arrived soon after the team wrapped work on the DOOM: The Dark Ages – Revelations DLC. While some staff had anticipated belt-tightening at that project milestone, the scale of the dismissals appears to have taken many by surprise.
Conflicting headcounts point to a reduced studio
Official numbers remain unconfirmed. Insider Gaming cites a total of 136 departures, split between 96 on-site personnel and 40 remote staff. GamesBeat reports at least 92 full-time employees laid off. With a studio workforce estimated at roughly 185 people prior to the cuts, both figures suggest id Software may have shed more than half its headcount, though GamesBeat notes that varying tallies are in circulation.
Questions linger over timing and sales
Why id Software sustained such an outsized impact is not yet clear, especially given the prestige of the DOOM brand. GamesBeat points to the studio’s position between major productions as a possible reason—the DLC is finished, and new projects are understood to be in early concept phases. The conversation has also turned to DOOM: The Dark Ages and its commercial profile. Player numbers were strong at launch, but a notable portion of that audience likely arrived through Xbox Game Pass, leading to speculation that outright sales may have undershot internal targets.
Fan reaction highlights fears for the franchise’s future
On Reddit, the cuts have prompted an outpouring of dismay. Commenters called id Software one of the most consistent and reliable teams within the Xbox and Bethesda family, pointing to a string of well-received releases. Underlying the frustration is a deeper worry about institutional knowledge walking out the door. Some fans voiced concern that the layoffs could weaken the technical bar for future DOOM entries, while others raised the possibility that id Software might gradually shift into a support role for other Bethesda or Xbox projects instead of leading its own blockbuster titles. In that light, many see the reductions as a short-sighted strategic move by Microsoft.
Sources: gamesbeat.com, store.steampowered.com