“They don’t understand art” - id Software lead slams Xbox, says it’s “impossible” to make games like 2016’s Doom now
A lead developer at id Software has criticized Microsoft’s decision to lay off a significant portion of the studio’s workforce, stating it would be “impossible” to create triple-A games at the scale and quality of 2016’s Doom with reduced staff levels.
Chris Hayes, lead services programmer at id Software, spoke candidly about the studio’s recent layoffs in interviews with the Well Played podcast and YouTube channel Auf ein Bier. According to reports, id Software experienced cuts affecting 136 roles, representing a substantial reduction to the developer’s team size.
Hayes expressed serious concerns about the studio’s future capabilities under the new staffing constraints. “It is hard to make a game that is triple-A, that is like we’ve done before, with half the people. And by hard I mean impossible,” he stated. Beyond the immediate operational challenges, Hayes leveled broader criticism at Microsoft’s approach to gaming and creative development, stating that the company “fundamentally doesn’t understand art” and “doesn’t understand games.”
The developer also suggested that Microsoft’s decision-making philosophy prioritizes financial metrics over creative vision, contrasting how “the way they align their spreadsheets for their financial reports” differs from the studio’s previous approach. Hayes claimed that Microsoft has “burned a lot of bridges” within the industry through its recent strategic decisions.
The statements underscore deeper tensions within Microsoft’s gaming division following the wide-reaching reset of Xbox’s strategy. While official communications from Microsoft and id Software have attempted to reassure the community that the studio remains viable, Hayes’s comments suggest significant friction between leadership and developers over the studio’s direction and resources. The layoffs also coincide with ongoing discussions about unionization efforts at id Software.