id Software says Doom team intact after Microsoft layoffs

The leadership of id Software is pushing back against widespread reports that the studio was severely diminished by recent Microsoft layoffs, asserting that its team remains intact and capable of continuing its flagship Doom series. The statements come in the wake of significant workforce reductions across Microsoft's gaming division that affected the developer.

During a livestream for the recently released "Doom: The Dark Ages - Revelations" expansion, game director Hugo Martin directly addressed concerns about the studio's viability. He rejected characterizations that the team had been "nerfed into the ground" or "gutted," specifically disputing reports that only 50 people remained. Martin stated the studio is currently about the same size it was during the development of 2016's Doom reboot. He also emphasized that the idTech game engine remains actively supported by engineers at id Software's offices and at sister studio MachineGames.

The layoffs, which occurred in mid-July 2026, reportedly affected approximately 130 employees at id Software. The timing coincided with the release of the "Revelations" expansion, casting a shadow over its launch. In the livestream, Martin and...