We at NerdLeaks have been tracking a fresh rumour that paints id Software as a studio with a crowded idea board before a wave of layoffs hit. Per Pure Xbox, and citing reporting according to GamesBeat, the studio reportedly had multiple project proposals in play — including a revival of Perfect Dark — before staffing cuts swept through Xbox Game Studios.
What Was Reported
Multiple Pitches On The Table
Per the report, id Software allegedly had several distinct concepts being considered internally. One project, codenamed Fury, is described as an original IP pitched by director and co-director Hugo Martin. The pitch reportedly blended sci‑fi, noir and criminal elements tied to Louisiana and Chicago gangsters and leaned on a modern, cyberpunk-like aesthetic. A core mechanic called "Gun Fu" was said to combine gunplay with martial arts to evoke a John Wick-style feel, but the idea "was not formally greenlit for production," per the source.
Perfect Dark Revival
More intriguingly, Pure Xbox reports that the team was allegedly considering doing a game based on Perfect Dark. This interest reportedly came after the cancellation of The Initiative's Perfect Dark reboot in July 2025. The piece claims the studio "got wind of the idea one day when someone made a presentation in a glass office," and that "concept art was in the works." The report adds that id Software could tap IP from other Microsoft properties "if they weren’t being worked on by others."
Other Ideas
The report also references a proposed project called Ironwood, described as a "Western-style robot" survival game with shades of Westworld, and suggestions around expanding DOOM with co-op, multiplayer and additional DLC. One idea reportedly discussed was bringing back weapons from DOOM titles such as DOOM (2016) and DOOM: Eternal.
The reporting notes that these pitches existed in the run-up to mass layoffs affecting Xbox Game Studios, with the broader organizational cuts numbered at 3,200 job cuts. It also claims that "half of the id Software team were let go just moments before shipping DOOM: The Dark Ages Revelations DLC."
The Source & Credibility
These claims come to us via Pure Xbox, which cites reporting according to GamesBeat. Take this with a pinch of salt: elements of the report are presented as proposals and pitches rather than greenlit projects. The language used in the reporting — phrases like "was not formally greenlit for production" and "it’s not clear which game, if any, the remaining team can do" — suggests these were internal concepts under consideration rather than confirmed development paths.
We are explicitly relaying what Pure Xbox reports, and we emphasise the original piece itself flags uncertainty. The claims reflect internal conversations and concept work rather than finished games, and there are no confirmations from id Software or Microsoft quoted in the reporting.
What It Could Mean
- If true, the rumours imply that id Software was exploring a much broader creative remit than many outsiders expected, from a noir-inflected martial-arts shooter to franchise revivals and survival robot westerns.
- Interest in a Perfect Dark title at id Software would be notable given the earlier cancellation of The Initiative's reboot. The report suggests concept art existed and internal presentations were made, but the work was reportedly still nascent.
- The existence of multiple pitches could explain why the studio retained concept work even amid staffing churn — though, per the reporting, it’s unclear what the reduced team might realistically pursue next.
- Proposals to expand DOOM with co-op, multiplayer or more DLC, including bringing back weapons from previous entries, indicate the franchise remained on the table as a steady, low-risk option.
We are sceptical but intrigued. These are alleged internal ideas and proposals rather than greenlit projects. If true, they show id was ideating aggressively; if not, they may simply be scraps of concept work that never progressed. Either way, the presence of concept art and internal pitches — reportedly — is enough to make this a story worth watching.
Why This Matters
This matters because it sheds light — albeit tentatively and with many caveats — on what a legacy studio like id Software was exploring before a major round of cuts impacted its capacity. The rumoured pitches range from original IP experiments to reboots of a recognised franchise, and per Pure Xbox these conversations reportedly happened alongside broader Xbox restructuring that included 3,200 job cuts.
Take the claims with a pinch of salt: nothing here is officially confirmed by the studio or publisher in public statements, and several elements are presented as proposals rather than active projects. Still, if any of these concepts were to resurface formally, they would reshape expectations for what id Software might tackle next — whether that is further work on DOOM, a surprise revival of Perfect Dark, or something more experimental like Fury or Ironwood.
We’ll continue to follow this closely and will update readers if we can independently verify any of the reported pitches or obtain comment from the parties involved. Until then, consider this an exciting rumour with clear caveats: allegedly in motion, but by no means confirmed.
