John Romero Urges Preservation of id Software’s Legacy Amid Xbox Challenges
id Software, the legendary studio behind Doom, is facing significant cutbacks as part of a major restructuring within Xbox. The situation appears dire, leaving many to wonder about the future of this iconic developer. In the midst of this turmoil, co-founder and original Doom designer John Romero expressed his sorrow and emphasized the importance of preserving gaming history.
“I’m deeply sorry for everyone at id Software impacted by these layoffs,” he shared on X. “I understand the feeling of leaving id while it continues on. It’s a strange and painful experience to step away from a place that holds so much of your work, friendships, and history. The team at id has done an incredible job of carrying that legacy forward. DOOM, Quake, and Wolfenstein are heavy names to uphold, especially in today’s gaming landscape. The recent titles have shown genuine care, skill, and respect for what those worlds mean to players.”
He added, “Regarding digital preservation: id’s history is vital to the overall narrative of gaming. I’ve kept a complete record of id’s early history from our beginnings at Softdisk up to August 6, 1996, including materials and assets that, to my knowledge, id no longer possesses. I hope someone is ensuring the ongoing legacy of the company is preserved (the work, code, assets, stories, and the people behind them). My thoughts are with everyone at id today, and all those affected by the layoffs. Romero Games experienced something similar a year ago. I know how devastating it can be, and my heart goes out to all of you.”
This message comes amid reports that layoffs at the Texas-based studio have been particularly severe. Some sources indicate that nearly half of the team has been let go, with former Bethesda Game Studios lead Jeff Gardiner suggesting the number could be as high as 95. The studio had just released Doom: The Dark Ages last year, and several employees have shared their job losses on LinkedIn.
“Yes, I was part of the team (about 50% of the company) that was let go today,” wrote systems programmer Michael Maynard, who had been with the studio since 2005. “(I was there for OVER 20 years! RAGE through DOOM: Dark Ages) It’s sad, but after over 40 years in the industry, it’s not a huge surprise. It’s just really disheartening to see id Software, the PIONEER/INNOVATOR of FPS action games, reduced to just another ‘reorganization’ of assets.”
These layoffs come as Xbox shifts its focus from the independence of its studios to prioritizing its most successful franchises. “To best position Bethesda for future growth, we are moving from a planning model primarily centered on what’s next for each independent studio to one that emphasizes our strongest franchises and determining the content roadmap that best serves our players and Bethesda as a whole,” stated Bethesda’s head, Jill Braff, in a message to staff.
Founded in 1991 by Romero, John Carmack, Tom Hall, and Adrian Carmack, id Software’s early history is well-documented in works like Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture, as well as Romero’s own Doom Guy: Life in First Person. Romero Games was reportedly working on a new project when it lost its publishing contract with Microsoft during the last major layoffs in 2025. Co-founder Brenda Romero noted earlier this year that “we were there in the ’80s for the crash, and this is definitely crashier.”
John Romero has stated in his will that all documentation he has preserved from id Software and other places he has worked will be donated to The Strong National Museum of Play upon his passing.
