New Doom Title in “The Early Stages,” Despite Extensive Layoffs at id Software – Rumor

id Software is developing a new Doom title in its early stages, the studio confirmed following recent layoffs that cut deep into its workforce. Despite the significant staff reductions, id Software stated that its current headcount remains roughly equivalent to the team that shipped 2016's Doom.

The layoffs hit id Software hard, but leadership frames the situation differently than it might appear on the surface. The studio maintains it retains enough personnel to build another AAA shooter at the scale of its recent mainline efforts. This assertion carries weight given Doom's commercial success and the technical demands of modern first-person shooters.

2016's Doom became a critical and commercial hit, revitalizing the franchise after years dormant. It sold millions of copies across PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, establishing id Software's renewed relevance in the FPS space. Doom Eternal followed in 2020 to similar acclaim, pushing the series further into multiplayer and live-service territory.

The confirmation of a new Doom project arrives amid industry-wide studio restructuring. id Software parent company ZeniMax has conducted multiple rounds of cuts across its holdings. For id Software specifically, the timing raises questions about production scope and timeline.

Early-stage development typically spans years before reaching playable builds. A new Doom game likely remains at least two to three years away from launch. The confirmation suggests publisher confidence in the project's viability despite the workforce reduction.

id Software has cycled through different leadership and structural approaches in recent years. The studio shifted focus to live-service elements with Eternal before largely stepping back from that model. How the new Doom project balances single-player campaigns against multiplayer remains unclear at this stage.

The franchise remains valuable IP for ZeniMax. Doom's cultural relevance extends beyond gaming into broader pop culture, and both recent mainline entries proved that audiences still hunger for the studio's