No, Doom maker id Software hasn’t been “nerfed into the ground and gutted” by the Xbox cuts, insists director Hugo Martin

id Software has pushed back against reports that the studio was severely gutted by the latest Xbox layoffs. As part of Microsoft’s broader gaming “reset” under new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, id Software lost approximately 136 employees—96 in Richardson, Texas and 40 remote positions. This was part of a wave that eliminated 3,200 jobs across Xbox, with another 1,600 planned.

Initial reports raised concerns that the layoffs were so severe the studio could no longer develop full-scale games independently or maintain its proprietary idTech engine. However, id Software has maintained that the reduction brought the studio to roughly the size it was during development of 2016’s DOOM reboot—a period when it successfully shipped a well-regarded triple-A title.

Studio director Hugo Martin elaborated on these points during an official livestream, directly addressing narratives that the studio had been “nerfed into the ground” and “gutted.” Martin emphasized that idTech remains “very much alive and well” and that the team retains necessary personnel to continue developing games and technology at established standards. He noted that “what matters the most is that the games are good,” suggesting focus on quality output over headcount.

id Software is currently working on DOOM: The Dark Ages with ongoing Revelations DLC support, suggesting continued development momentum. The studio’s reassurances attempt to counter industry skepticism about whether major layoffs can be absorbed without compromising game quality and technical direction.

Sources

• No, Doom maker id Software hasn’t been “nerfed into the ground and gutted” by the Xbox cuts, insists director Hugo Martin
• id Software Creative Director Says Claims the Doom Developer Was ‘Nerfed Into the Ground’ by Xbox Layoffs Are Untrue
• Doom director Hugo Martin says id Software is fine, and anyway, ‘what matters the most is that the games are good’
• DOOM Director Elaborates On The State Of The Studio Going Forward
• DOOM Maker Continues to Repel Rumours It’s Been Gutted by Xbox
• “Id Tech is there, the Doom team is here”: Doom: The Dark Ages director pushes back against idea studio have been “nerfed into the ground” by Xbox layoffs
• “There have been reports that we’ve been nerfed into the ground and gutted, and we are not”: id Software proclaims it’s alive and well, making more DOOM games