Doom dev id Software loses half its staff and all its coders in Xbox bloodbath

Scott Miller, co-founder of Apogee Software/3D Realms, woke up to devastating news on July 6, 2026. As he scrolled through his X feed, a post from his fellow co-founder George Broussard caught his attention. The message was brief, but the implications were catastrophic: id Software, the legendary studio behind the iconic Doom games, was all but gone. According to George, the majority of id Software had been let go, including most (if not all) of its coders.

As I read the news, I couldn't help but think of the countless gamers who grew up idolizing id Software's groundbreaking games. The studio's legacy stretches back to 1991, when id was founded by John Carmack, Tom Hall, John Romero, and Adrian Carmack. Over the years, id Software has revolutionized the first-person shooter genre, pushing the boundaries of what was thought possible with its bespoke game engine. The early Doom and Wolfenstein games were technological marvels, and id has continued to innovate, powering some of Microsoft and Bethesda's most beloved titles, including MachineGames' Wolfenstein games and Indiana Jones And The Great Circle.

The full impact of the Xbox layoffs is still coming to light, with roughly 3,200 people losing their jobs in the latest round of cuts. This brings the total number of employees let go by Xbox in just a few years to over 9,000. The sheer scale of the layoffs is staggering, and the loss of institutional knowledge will be felt across the industry for years to come. As George Broussard so aptly put it, the layoffs are nothing short of "vandalism."

Game Developer has corroborated the assertions made by Scott Miller and George Broussard, citing multiple sources that confirm over 90 people were let go, including the Q&A department. The studio's core team, including its coders and testing team, are also gone. It's a bleak picture, and one that raises questions about the future of id Software. Despite being one of the oldest and most respected studios in the industry, id appears to be on the brink of collapse.

As I reflect on the legacy of id Software, it's hard not to feel a sense of sadness and loss. The studio's impact on the gaming industry cannot be overstated, and its influence can still be felt today. But as I look at the current state of the industry, I worry about the long-term consequences of these layoffs. Will we see a new generation of developers emerge to carry the torch, or will the loss of id Software's institutional knowledge and expertise be a blow from which the industry never recovers?

As the dust settles on the Xbox layoffs, one thing is clear: the gaming industry will never be the same. The loss of id Software's coders, testing team, and core team is a devastating blow, and one that will be felt for years to come. As Scott Miller and George Broussard so aptly put it, this is nothing short of vandalism. As I close this article, I'm left wondering what the future holds for id Software, and whether the studio will be able to recover from this devastating blow.

• id Software has lost roughly half of its staff, including most (if not all) of its coders.
• Over 3,200 people have lost their jobs in the latest round of Xbox layoffs.
• The studio's core team, including its testing team, are also gone.
• id Software was founded in 1991 and is one of the oldest and most respected studios in the industry.

As I finish writing this article, I'm left with a sense of unease and uncertainty about the future of id Software. Will the studio be able to recover from this devastating blow, or will its legacy be reduced to a footnote in the annals of gaming history?