adminThe id Software layoffs have raised questions about the studio’s ability to support its games and id Tech, the engine associated with titles including DOOM, Wolfenstein and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. In a social media statement, the studio said its remaining team is equipped to continue developing the games and technology for which it is known.
What id Software said about the layoffs
The studio’s post said the workforce changes affected multiple teams, rather than being concentrated in one area. It also compared the current team’s size with the group that worked on DOOM (2016), saying the studio remains close to that earlier scale.
Id Software described its structure as a flat studio where team members contribute directly to making games. The statement said that approach would continue, alongside efforts to support colleagues affected by the cuts.
The studio also said it plans to keep developing games and technology, and noted that it expects to meet fans at QuakeCon in August. Because the statement does not specify a year for that event, readers should check current event information for the latest schedule.
Concerns over id Tech support
Earlier accounts from former employees had suggested that the loss of experienced staff could make it difficult for id Software to maintain id Tech. One departed employee was reported as believing that the engine’s future as a technology was in serious doubt, particularly after substantial job losses at the studio’s Texas base.
Microsoft disputed claims that id Tech was left with only one person working on it in Texas. The company said dozens of people across several locations work on the technology. That response indicates that engine support is not limited to staff at a single office, though it does not provide a detailed breakdown of teams or responsibilities.
For players and developers following id Tech, the key distinction is between the size of id Software’s own studio team and the broader group of people supporting the engine across locations. The public statements offer reassurance about continued work, but do not give a specific roadmap or schedule for future engine updates.
How the studio cuts fit into wider Xbox job reductions
The studio’s announcement followed a broader reduction across Microsoft’s gaming business. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said the company planned to cut 3,200 jobs during the financial year, representing about 20% of its workforce. Around 1,600 employees were set to be made redundant immediately, with reductions affecting different parts of the business and five studios being divested.
At id Software, the reported impact was 136 roles, or approximately half of the company. These figures describe different scopes: the 3,200-job plan applies across the wider business, while the 136 figure relates to id Software.
Industry reaction
Id co-founder John Carmack also commented on the changes, saying he was saddened and that his earlier confidence in Microsoft as a steward of the brand had not aged well. He added that he could not summon anger or outrage over the situation.
For now, id Software’s public position is that it has a team capable of continuing its work, while Microsoft says id Tech contributors remain active across multiple locations. The id Software layoffs have prompted understandable questions about staffing and long-term engine support; future updates from the studio and Microsoft will help clarify how those plans develop.
