We’re tracking a developing story out of Id Software that mixes damage control, harsh firsthand claims from departing staff, and a hint — allegedly — of new work in the pipeline. Per VGC, the studio has publicly downplayed this week’s layoffs while a former employee and other reporting paint a much bleaker picture. Take this with a pinch of salt, but if true, it’s a major moment for one of gaming’s oldest shooter houses.
What Was Reported
Studio Statement
Id Software issued a public response, per VGC, saying the studio “still has the crew we need to build the games and tech we’re known for.” The statement claims the remaining team is “about the same size we were when making DOOM (2016)” and stresses the studio’s “flat” philosophy where “everyone is a maker.” The company added it will “keep building the great games and tech that have defined us for the past 35 years,” and said it is “looking forward to seeing you at QuakeCon this August,” according to VGC.
Layoffs And Employee Claims
VGC reports that roughly “around 100 workers have lost their jobs” as part of wider Xbox layoffs. A former VFX artist at Id, Derek Best, published a lengthy LinkedIn post saying he was “in shock at how brutal the layoff cuts” were. Best claimed that “collectively decades of knowledge was wiped out of the studio,” that “the VFX team was eliminated down to one single artist with no lead or producer,” and that a key engine programmer driving particle editor and VFX pipeline improvements “was let go as well.” Best described the situation as “nuked into the dirt,” per his LinkedIn comments cited by VGC.
The Source & Credibility
Who’s Saying What
- VGC is the primary outlet reporting the studio statement and details of the layoffs.
- Per The Verge reporter Tom Warren, Id is “now in the early stages of developing a new game,” which the report notes fits with Xbox’s mandate to focus on its biggest franchises.
- Firsthand claims from Derek Best — identified as a former VFX Artist who worked on all three modern Doom games — add a whistleblower perspective via LinkedIn, relayed by VGC.
- John Carmack, co-founder of Id Software, also commented and said he was saddened by the news while admitting he was “struggling to feel anger without knowing the full details,” per VGC. Carmack added: “My ‘Microsoft will probably be a good steward of the brand’ statement isn’t aging well, and this is certainly going to dampen the mood of the founder reunion at QuakeCon next month,” according to VGC.
In short: multiple sources and quotes are being referenced by VGC, and The Verge reporter adds a separate claim about new development. We’re reporting what’s been publicly shared and alleged; these accounts conflict in tone and implication, so read the details cautiously.
What It Could Mean
Assuming the statements are accurate, there are a few possible interpretations — all of them notable for fans and insiders.
- If Id truly retains “the crew we need” and the team is “about the same size” as when making DOOM (2016), the studio may believe it can continue shipping major work and maintain core technological efforts. That’s the optimistic read the studio wants you to take, per VGC.
- Conversely, if Derek Best’s account that “collectively decades of knowledge was wiped out” and that teams like VFX were cut “down to one single artist” is accurate, then the practical impacts on pipeline, polish, and longer-term tech innovation could be substantial. Best’s comments allege concrete losses in people responsible for notable tooling and pipeline gains.
- Per The Verge reporter Tom Warren, Id is in early development on a new game. If that’s true and the studio has materially reduced specialist staff, there’s a question about how development priorities and resource allocations will shift — especially given Xbox’s wider strategic focus on major franchises, per The Verge.
We’re excited about the suggestion of new work, but also sceptical: public statements and ex-staff testimony paint different pictures. Take this with a pinch of salt until further verification.
Why This Matters
This situation matters because Id Software is a studio with a long legacy and strong technical pedigree. The tension between a corporate-side message that “we have the crew we need” and multiple firsthand reports of deep cuts raises real questions about capability and culture moving forward. If the studio is indeed “now in the early stages of developing a new game,” per The Verge, then what survives these changes — people, tools, and institutional knowledge — will shape whatever comes next for franchises like Doom and Quake.
We’ll keep digging and will update you as further confirmations or contradictions emerge. For now, the mix of official reassurance, harsh eyewitness claims, and a murmur about fresh development makes this a story we’ll be returning to
