Xbox Layoffs Reportedly Cut id Software Workforce by About Half During DOOM DLC Launch

id Software has reportedly lost around half of its workforce as part of Microsoft’s wider Xbox restructuring, creating uncertainty around one of the company’s most important development teams.

The cuts arrived as DOOM: The Dark Ages received its first major expansion, Revelations, on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, PC, and PlayStation 5. The DLC adds an estimated 10 to 15 hours of content, but its release was overshadowed by reports of major staff reductions at the studio behind the game.

Senior gameplay systems programmer Michael Maynard said he was among the employees who lost their roles. He estimated that roughly 50 percent of the studio was affected. Maynard had worked at id Software for more than 20 years and contributed to projects ranging from RAGE to DOOM: The Dark Ages.

Reports suggest that about 95 employees may have been affected, although Microsoft has not provided a detailed breakdown for id Software. The reductions are part of the broader plan to remove 3,200 Xbox roles during the 2027 financial year.

The cuts affect one of Xbox’s most technically important studios

id Software has played a major role in the development of first person shooters for more than three decades. The studio created franchises such as DOOM and Quake and has continued to maintain its own technology through the id Tech engine.

The modern DOOM series has also been one of Bethesda’s most reliable properties. DOOM in 2016 successfully revived the franchise, while DOOM Eternal expanded its combat systems and received strong critical support. DOOM: The Dark Ages continued that work with a heavier combat style and a medieval inspired setting.

The timing is especially difficult because the affected employees helped complete a major expansion that launched on the same day as the reported cuts. Instead of focusing on the release, many developers were dealing with the loss of their jobs and the future of the studio.

Questions remain about id Tech and future DOOM projects

The size of the reported reduction has raised concerns about what happens next to id Software’s technology team. Some of the affected roles are believed to have involved engine development, although the exact structure of the cuts remains unclear.

Microsoft owns several technologies used across its shooter franchises, including id Tech and the engine behind Call of Duty. Halo Studios has also moved its future projects to Unreal Engine 5. This has led to speculation that Xbox could reduce the number of internal engines it maintains.

There is no confirmation that id Tech is being retired or that future DOOM games will move to another engine. Any such change would be significant because technical performance has been one of the defining qualities of recent id Software releases.

The modern DOOM games are known for high frame rates, responsive controls, detailed environments, and strong performance across several hardware configurations. Maintaining those qualities with a smaller workforce could become more difficult, especially if the remaining team must support existing games while preparing future projects.

Microsoft says it is shifting resources toward higher priority projects

Xbox has said its restructuring will reset the company’s content portfolio, simplify its platform, and change how its gaming business operates. The company is reducing spending in some areas while moving investment toward projects it considers more important.

That explanation makes the scale of the reported id Software cuts difficult to understand. DOOM remains one of Bethesda’s largest franchises, and id Software has delivered several well received releases at a steady pace.

A smaller team may still be able to develop future games, but production could take longer or require more support from external studios. The loss of experienced programmers, artists, designers, and technical specialists could also affect knowledge that has been built inside the company over many years.

The future of DOOM has not been officially detailed beyond the Revelations expansion. For now, the DLC represents the latest work from a much larger version of id Software than the team that may carry the franchise forward.