id Software producer says ‘you’ll never get another WoW or Morrowind in the current climate’ in the wake of Xbox layoffs
Microsoft’s recent Xbox layoffs significantly impacted id Software, though the studio officially maintains it remains large enough to continue production. However, laid-off developers dispute this assessment, indicating the impact is more severe than management acknowledges.
id Software producer Andrew Willis, who led unionization efforts at the studio in 2025, expressed frustration through LinkedIn posts criticizing the gaming industry’s corporate leadership. Willis stated that “large publishers and monopolies have proven themselves terrible stewards,” arguing that the current climate makes it impossible to develop ambitious original titles like World of Warcraft or The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.
Willis’s comments highlight a significant disconnect between management and developers regarding the layoffs’ impact on the studio’s capabilities. His critique extends beyond id Software’s immediate situation to address systemic issues with corporate stewardship in gaming, where consolidation has concentrated power among a handful of major publishers. The comments reflect broader concerns within the development community about how these corporations treat their workforce and allocate resources for ambitious projects.
The Xbox layoffs represent part of a larger Microsoft restructuring strategy affecting multiple studios. Willis’s public statements underscore growing tension between corporate interests and developer concerns regarding the industry’s future direction.