id Software may be building a new Doom game. The news comes just weeks after the studio was hit by layoffs tied to a wider shakeup at Xbox Game Studios.
Journalist Tom Warren of The Verge reported that id Software is not being turned into a support studio, despite the cuts. According to Warren, the team is “in the early stages of a new Doom game.” No title, setting, or release window has been shared.
What id Software Said About the Layoffs
The recent wave of layoffs hit nearly every studio under the Xbox umbrella, including id Software. Early reports suggested the cuts had gutted the team. id Software pushed back on that idea in a statement posted on X.
The studio said the changes were spread across teams, not concentrated at id. It added that it still has the people needed to build the games and technology it is known for. id also said its current team is about the same size as it was during the development of Doom (2016). The studio described itself as “flat,” meaning everyone on staff works as a maker rather than sitting in a purely managerial role.
Where the New Doom Report Comes From
Warren’s comments came in response to that same statement. He said the layoffs at id have been deep, but they have not pushed the studio into a support role for other Xbox teams. Instead, he reported that id is now working on the earliest stages of a new Doom project.
No other outlet has confirmed the report independently, and Xbox has not commented on it. At this point, there is no official confirmation that a new Doom game exists.
Xbox’s Shift Toward Its Biggest Franchises
The layoffs came alongside a broader change in direction at Xbox Game Studios. The company is now focused on developing games faster within its tentpole franchises, which include Halo, Fallout, and Elder Scrolls. That strategy leaves some open questions about what id Software will work on next, since the studio’s statement did not name any specific project.
Doom: The Dark Ages was released in May 2025, which is relatively recent for the franchise. If a new Doom game is indeed in the works, a report placing it in “early stages” would fit with that timeline, since a follow-up project would likely be a long way from release.
