Two thirds of remaining Doom (2016) devs laid off during latest round of Xbox cuts
id Software experienced a major workforce reduction as part of Microsoft’s latest Xbox division layoffs, with a WARN notice documenting 136 dismissals from the studio’s Texas office, including 40 remote workers. This represents approximately two-thirds of the studio’s remaining headcount.
However, id Software co-director Hugo Martin contested characterizations that the studio had been severely decimated during a livestream marking the launch of Doom: The Dark Ages’ Revelations expansion. Martin stated that the studio’s current size matches its headcount when developing Doom (2016), suggesting the layoffs targeted less essential positions or roles added since the original game’s release. He emphasized that id Tech, the studio’s proprietary game engine, remains fully operational and functional.
The layoffs occur within a broader pattern of cost-cutting at Xbox, which has conducted multiple rounds of workforce reductions across its gaming portfolio. Martin’s defense of the studio’s viability suggests id Software intends to continue operations under a more streamlined structure, though with reduced overall capacity. The reduction raises questions about the studio’s capability to support Doom: The Dark Ages and other future projects, despite Martin’s assertion that core development infrastructure remains intact.