{"id":36731,"date":"2026-08-10T16:08:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T11:08:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=36731"},"modified":"2026-08-10T16:08:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T11:08:32","slug":"doom-dev-criticises-xbox-after-studio-layoffs-morale-has-never-been-lower","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=36731","title":{"rendered":"Doom dev criticises Xbox after studio layoffs: &#8216;Morale has never been lower&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"646\" height=\"339\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_307887608-96fb.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-29341392\" alt=\"Doom key art\" decoding=\"sync\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Doom and gloom (id Software\/Bethesda)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A developer from id Software has hit back at <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/microsoft\/\">Microsoft<\/a> following the latest round of layoffs, stating that \u2018morale has never been lower.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>While no studios were shut down during <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/xbox\/\">Xbox<\/a>\u2019s latest layoff spree, <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/06\/xbox-cuts-3-200-staff-four-studios-exit-microsoft-arkane-review-29064589\/\">around 3,200 people are set to lose their jobs<\/a> before the end of the financial year, and several will be sold off to other publishers or allowed to go independent, such as Psychonauts creator Double Fine.<\/p>\n<p>One of the worst affected studios that isn\u2019t going anywhere appears to be Doom developer id Software, which has <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/07\/doom-dev-id-software-loses-half-staff-coders-xbox-bloodbath-29077951\/\">lost roughly half of its employees<\/a>. This is particularly devastating because the studio carries so much history, with Doom and Quake both being instrumental first person shooters.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>While it\u2019s unclear how id Software will cope in the future, lead services programmer Chris Hays, who has been at the studio since 2010, has spoken out against the layoffs\u00a0\u2013 and revealed the extent of their impact.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It was so inhumane,\u2019 Hays said on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=aA64Ogzm_VU\">Auf ein Bier podcast<\/a> about the layoffs. \u2018It was demoralising, and morale has never been lower.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>He added: \u2018It is hard to make a game that is triple-A that\u2019s like we\u2019ve done before with half the people. And by hard I mean impossible.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tExpert, exclusive gaming analysis\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p>Sign up to the <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/newsletters\/game-central\/\"><strong>GameCentral newsletter<\/strong><\/a> for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u2018It\u2019s hard to make a game when there are entire departments that are gutted that you need. Entire disciplines that are gone. So the reassurances that we\u2019re still the same id and we\u2019re still going to do things \u2013 well, first of all, we\u2019re not the same id. We\u2019re half the same id.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>These \u2018reassurances\u2019 refer to <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/idSoftware\/status\/2075638499412189455\">official statements from id Software<\/a> after the layoffs, which claimed they \u2018still have the crew we need to build the games and tech we\u2019re known for\u2019 and that the team right now is \u2018about the same size\u2019 when they made 2016\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2016\/05\/16\/game-review-doom-is-a-hellishly-violent-shooter-5884090\/\">Doom<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Hays claims the studio management has been told by Xbox \u2018things that are allowed to be said and what is not allowed to be said\u2019, in order to avoid internal \u2018unrest\u2019 or cause \u2018more people to jump ship\u2019 from the developer.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He goes on to criticise Xbox\u2019s view of success with its <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/xbox-game-pass\/\">Game Pass<\/a> subscription service. Since id Software is owned by <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/bethesda\/\">Bethesda<\/a>, which is owned by Xbox, all their games are released day one on Xbox Game Pass.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<p>\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Well played: What happened at id Software, when the layoffs hit (ft. Chris Hays)\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aA64Ogzm_VU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\u2018I know that [id has] serious issues with how Game Pass is done,\u2019 Hays added. \u2018Whenever we see the financial reports that say that there were poor sales under Bethesda, like, what\u2019s a sale? If you have Game Pass, are you saying poor sale means a poor number of games sold? Because of course. You\u2019re not doing a games-sold business model.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018And they fundamentally don\u2019t understand art. They don\u2019t understand art, they don\u2019t understand games, they don\u2019t understand that business model.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018If you cut half of a studio and don\u2019t actually take into account how it\u2019s made, you don\u2019t understand the cohesion between our teams was what made us successful.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>His comments are reminiscent of a famous quote from Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who <a href=\"http:\/\/techradar.com\/pro\/quote-of-the-day-by-steve-jobs-the-only-problem-with-microsoft-is-they-just-have-no-taste-a-potshot-at-a-bitter-rival\">suggested in 1995<\/a> that, \u2018The only problem with Microsoft is they just have no taste. They have absolutely no taste. And I don\u2019t mean that in a small way, I mean that in a big way, in the sense that they don\u2019t think of original ideas, and they don\u2019t bring much culture into their products.\u2019<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<p>\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Evercade - The DOOM Collection - Trailer\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IxROqJLZQWg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Elsewhere in the same interview, Hays extended his criticism to the wider games industry, arguing that executives across the board are divorced from the \u2018actual reality\u2019 of making good games.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I think that even in companies that are exclusively making games, especially the larger publishers at the top, I think they fundamentally don\u2019t understand what makes the business. They may understand the numbers for marketing and for sales, but the actual reality of what makes a good game a good game, how it gets done, they\u2019re so disconnected from that they don\u2019t understand what it takes to build a team, what it takes to maintain a team. Failures are important, too.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a refreshingly honest insight into the <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/08\/06\/video-games-industry-hands-monsters-ea-latest-victim-29306665\/\">problems plaguing the games industry right now<\/a> \u2013 where one failed project can result in the closure of an entire studio.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>By coincidence, over the weekend, Blaze Entertainment revealed a new Doom collection compatible with Evercade handheld devices. The cartridge combines native ports of Doom and Doom 2 with six map expansions, alongside a collection of multiplayer maps.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The package also comes with exclusive gameplay modifiers, ranging from turbo monsters, double monsters, explosive deaths, vampire mode, and the ability to increase the blood.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s unclear whether id Software had any direct connection with the release but The Doom Collection will be out on October 30, 2026.\u00a0Their most recent traditional release is the excellent <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/16\/doom-dark-ages-revelations-review-best-dlc-year-29148315\/\">Doom: The Dark Ages expansion Revelations<\/a>, most of whose staff are reported to have been laid off as soon as it launched.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"517\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_307887610-1f75.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-29341393\" alt=\"Doom Evercade collection\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>The new collection is out in October (Evercade)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><em>Email\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/08\/10\/doom-dev-criticises-xbox-studio-layoffs-morale-never-lower-29341233\/mailto:gamecentral@metro.co.uk\">gamecentral@metro.co.uk<\/a>, leave a comment below,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GameCentral\">follow us on Twitter<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To submit Inbox letters and Reader\u2019s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our\u00a0<a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/submit-stuff\/\">Submit Stuff page here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For more stories like this,\u00a0<a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/entertainment\/gaming\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">check our Gaming page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/08\/10\/best-new-mobile-games-ios-android-august-2026-round-up-29324662\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">Best new mobile games on iOS and Android \u2013 August 2026 round-up<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/08\/07\/gta-6-boss-says-discs-dont-really-make-sense-predicts-streaming-future-29324648\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">GTA 6 boss says discs \u2018don\u2019t really make sense\u2019 as he predicts streaming future<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/08\/07\/gta-6-pre-orders-astonishing-says-take-two-cancels-unannounced-game-29323844\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">GTA 6 pre-orders are \u2018astonishing\u2019 says Take-Two as it cancels unannounced game<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\"><a class=\"metro-button share-bar-comments\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Comment now<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-comment\" href=\"#social-comment\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span 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year,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36732,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_307887608-96fb_1786355771.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1200&h=630&crop=1","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36731","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-gossip"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36731","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=36731"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36731\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/36732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=36731"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=36731"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=36731"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}