Id Software Developer Critiques Xbox After Major Layoffs: “They Don’t Get Games or Art”

A current developer at id Software, the legendary studio behind titles like Doom and Quake, has voiced strong concerns about Xbox’s recent decision to slash jobs within their ranks. The massive layoffs, which saw around 1,600 people let go across the gaming division, have left many wondering about the future of iconic studios like id Software, particularly since they reportedly lost about half their staff.

In a candid chat on the Auf ein Bier YouTube channel, Chris Hays, a veteran who has dedicated 16 years to the studio, didn’t hold back. He criticized Xbox’s management for lacking a fundamental understanding of both the art and the business of gaming. “They fundamentally don’t understand art. They don’t understand games. They don’t understand that business model,” he remarked, highlighting the disconnect between financial objectives and the creative processes that drive game development.

Hays pointed out that operating on a fiscal quarter basis doesn’t align well with the lengthy and delicate nature of game creation. “How can we get this financial quarter or year to look good? Those don’t align with the same things that make a successful game,” he explained, emphasizing the challenges posed by such corporate pressures.

In the aftermath of these layoffs, there’s been a flurry of speculation regarding id Software’s future. While some former employees expressed doubts about the studio’s capacity to produce high-quality games moving forward, Hugo Martin, the director of Doom: The Dark Ages, dismissed these worries, asserting that the studio remains as capable as when they created Doom in 2016.

However, Hays remains uncertain about the path ahead. “It’s hard to make a game when there are entire departments that are gutted,” he noted, stressing the importance of having all necessary disciplines intact. With crucial team members gone, he raised valid concerns about who would cover essential roles. “Who will do that work now? We had like who’s going to make our skyboxes when we get rid of our skybox artist?” he questioned, illustrating the precarious situation that id Software finds itself in.

As the conversation continued, Hays reiterated a stark reality: “We’re not the same iD, we’re half the same iD.” He concluded with a critical perspective on the benefits of Microsoft’s ownership, stating, “There are no benefits to being owned by Microsoft. They have destroyed immense amounts of value that I don’t even think that they’re aware of.”

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