Microsoft laid off more than half of the developers at id Software just as the studio was exploring a slate of new game pitches, including a revival of Perfect Dark and a John Wick-inspired action title, according to the original report from IGN.
The layoffs, part of a wider cost-cutting initiative at Microsoft’s gaming division, shelved early-stage concepts that were reportedly being discussed internally. While the report remains light on exact details, it paints a picture of a studio in the midst of creative brainstorming before the corporate axe fell.
The Pitches That Were Shelved
Perfect Dark is already a familiar name within Xbox, currently being handled by The Initiative, but id Software’s involvement suggests a separate take on the franchise. The John Wick-inspired project hints at an ultra-stylish shooter — a genre id knows intimately from DOOM and Quake. Other unnamed pitches were also in the mix, indicating the studio aimed to expand beyond its established IP.
None of these ideas had reached full production, and it is unclear if any will resurface. The layoffs mean many of the people driving those concepts are no longer at the studio.
Microsoft’s Layoff Wave Hits id Software
Id Software, the legendary house behind DOOM, has been a key studio within Bethesda since ZeniMax’s acquisition under Microsoft. The cuts coincide with a broader restructuring that has seen Microsoft trim its gaming workforce. While the company has been making aggressive moves like putting EA games onto Xbox Game Pass, it has also faced financial pressures in its hardware division, dating back to the $400 million loss on Xbox One.
Id Software has been a cornerstone of first-person shooters since the early 1990s, and its parent company ZeniMax was acquired by Microsoft in 2021 for $7.5 billion. More than half the studio being let go is a significant blow, especially given id’s track record. It raises questions about how Microsoft values its legacy studios versus newer acquisitions.
What It Means for Upcoming Projects
For fans, the immediate concern is the fate of ongoing id Software titles. The DOOM franchise remains a pillar, but there has been no official word on its next mainline entry. The shelved pitches suggest the studio was keen to branch out. With its workforce decimated, id Software may now be forced to focus on fewer, safer bets. The cancellations also mean Xbox misses an opportunity to diversify its portfolio beyond the usual Halo and Forza titles.
The John Wick-style project, if it ever emerges, could have filled a gap in Xbox’s lineup: a fast-paced, action-driven game with broad appeal. Perfect Dark, already a challenging reboot, now seems further from a multi-studio effort.
GamerHeadlines Takeaway
Corporate layoffs are never just numbers, and at id Software they have directly interrupted a creative pipeline that included genuinely exciting ideas. While Microsoft continues to pour billions into its gaming ecosystem, the loss of over half a legendary studio signals that even iconic names are not immune to the bottom line. The pitches may be shelved, but the talent was real—and many of those developers are now looking elsewhere.
