Report: Cuts at Xbox's DOOM studio id Software are worse than we thought – developers at Bethesda's Austin office also hit

Earlier this week Microsoft has started A big wave of 4,800 layoffs hit the firm Xbox and gaming divisions have been particularly hard hit, with the elimination of four studios and 3,200 layoffs — 1,600 immediately and another 1,600 over the next 12 months. What is called a “reset” for the Xbox business.

While the layoffs affected teams across Xbox, some game studios were affected, such as: ZeniMax and Bethesda and Obsidian Entertainment quite disproportionately. Another developer that has experienced significant downsizing is id Software, the team that creates and oversees modern applications. DOOM games.

First, it was reported that half of the entire studio had been laid off As part of the restructuring of Microsoft and Xbox — a massive and devastating loss of talent that shocked the community. worried the developers at idgiven the popularity of their games and the potential of the ever-evolving id Tech game engine.

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However, the total number of layoffs at the Texas-based developer is much larger, according to a new report. Initially, it was believed that 96 roles were removed from id. And now, Game Developer writes that a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notices (WARN) notice obtained upon request from the Texas Workforce Commission revealed that 40 remote workers at the studio were also being let go.

Official screenshot of DOOM: The Dark Ages new Revelations DLC scheduled for release next week on July 7th.

Microsoft’s massive Xbox cuts hit id Software just a day before the release of the new Revelations DLC for DOOM: The Dark Ages. (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

This brings the total number of id Software outages to 136, meaning the studio’s workforce has been hit harder than initial reports indicated. It should be noted that the WARNING document also confirmed that 22 workers were affected Bethesda Game Studios‘ 158 Texas employees were laid off on both teams at the Austin, Texas, office.

Of these workers, 146 are reported to be represented by the Communications Workers of America union; Bethesda Game Studios also has its own association and has been very vocal about his frustration over this week’s layoff.

When I heard about how the news of the loss of half of the Id that an additional 40 staff were to be cut that extremely disturbing. I can’t help but fear for the studio’s future and lack of staff to effectively develop new DOOM games and other projects moving forward.

The painful irony of the situation is that these cuts happened at the same time. DOOM: Dark Ages. The new expansion has gotten strong reviews so far and I’m glad to see it…but it’s also heartbreaking to see that many of the creative minds responsible for it, Dark Ages and other modern DOOM titles are gone.

Do you believe that Microsoft and Xbox have gone too far with the cuts to id Software? Share your feelings on the topic in the comments and vote in our poll.