Key Takeaways
1. Romero Games has shut down due to funding withdrawal from Microsoft amid widespread layoffs.
2. The entire team at Romero Games was laid off, with employees expressing heartbreak over the sudden closure.
3. Brenda Romero stated that the decision to cut funding was made at a higher level within Microsoft and was beyond the studio’s control.
4. The studio was founded in 2015 and had grown to 100 employees, previously working on projects like Sigil and Empire of Sin.
5. The future of Romero Games is uncertain, with staff actively seeking new job opportunities.
Romero Games, the studio created by video game pioneer and the original DOOM level designer John Romero, has reportedly shut down amid a wave of layoffs at Microsoft. It was initially announced that Microsoft had withdrawn funding for a forthcoming title. This information became public when former employees started discussing it on LinkedIn.
Layoffs and Closure
Former employees of Romero Games have indicated that the entire team has been laid off following Microsoft’s decision to cut funding for their unreleased first-person shooter. One staff member expressed on LinkedIn, “Today, I found out our whole studio is being let go because of the layoffs at Microsoft.”
Employee Reactions
In the wake of this news, another employee took to LinkedIn to share their heartbreak, stating, “It breaks my heart to state that Romero Games fell victim to the 9,100 Microsoft layoffs today. The best team I’ve ever worked with, and my dream job, gone just like that. It really was a great project and it’s hard to process that it’s over. It’s nothing less than tragic.”
Statement from Brenda Romero
Brenda Romero, in a public statement on the social media platform X, revealed that the decision to stop funding was made at a higher level within Microsoft and was outside the studio’s control. She noted that the team had met all their deadlines and received praise for their hard work. The abrupt cancellation was shocking, with Brenda Romero stating, “We deeply wish there had been something, anything we could have done to prevent this outcome.”
Romero Games was founded in 2015 in Galway, Ireland, and had grown to have 100 employees before its shutdown. Their recent works included Sigil and Sigil 2, along with the strategy game Empire of Sin. In 2022, the studio announced they were developing an ambitious AAA first-person shooter utilizing Unreal Engine 5, supported by Microsoft through its subsidiary, Bethesda.
Future Uncertain
Now that Romero Games has ceased operations, its staff is actively looking for new job opportunities. Currently, the future of the studio is unclear as they are “currently evaluating next steps and working quickly to support” their team.
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