Microsoft’s ongoing Xbox layoffs have struck id Software, the studio behind Doom, with roughly 50 percent of its workforce cut, according to multiple reports. The reductions at Bethesda and id Software have hit some teams especially hard — one source claimed the cuts at id amount to more than 90 redundancies.
These layoffs come days after Microsoft began a broader restructuring across its gaming division. The impact on id Software is particularly stark given the studio is releasing a major expansion for its latest Doom game on the same day the layoffs were reported.
The Verge, citing Game Developer, reported that id’s QA department was significantly affected. A former id employee, Michael Maynard, corroborated the 50 percent figure in a LinkedIn post, describing the engine team's work as technically exceptional.
Ars Technica reported that the reductions could extend further, with up to 50 percent of some teams cut and more layoffs potentially on the horizon. The full scope of the cuts across Bethesda and other Xbox studios remains unclear.
Neither Microsoft nor Bethesda have issued official statements on the exact number of employees affected. The layoffs reflect continued cost-cutting across the tech and gaming sectors.