Doom Developer Speaks Out Strongly: Xbox Doesn’t Understand Art

While Xbox layoffs have affected thousands of developers in recent months, one of the hardest hit teams has been id Software. Following our previous reports on the Xbox layoffs and downsizing at id Software, a much harsher statement has now come from within the studio. Chris Hays, an experienced developer who worked on the Doom team, criticized both the Game Pass model and Microsoft’s approach to id Software’s situation.

How Much Have the Xbox Layoffs Affected id Software?

According to Chris Hays, id Software is now working with an even smaller team than during the Doom 2016 era. This makes it seriously difficult for the studio to produce new AAA games on the scale of Doom Eternal or Doom: The Dark Ages. Hays says that developing games of the same quality and size with a team that has been halved is not only difficult, but practically impossible.

The developer also notes that the studio was never fully convinced about Game Pass in the past. According to him, offering a game on a subscription service from day one directly lowers sales. Therefore, Microsoft’s subsequent justification of lower sales figures is causing resentment within the team. Hays’s words suggest serious disagreements between id Software and Xbox management regarding the business model.

The harshest criticism came regarding Microsoft’s messages about the studio’s situation. Hays considers the company’s statements that id Software is still strong as a form of damage control. According to the developer, Xbox management doesn’t sufficiently understand the studio’s creative production process and art side. Therefore, he believes that the layoffs could directly affect not only the number of employees but also the scope of future games.

id Software has garnered attention in the last 10 years with strong titles like Doom 2016, Doom Eternal, and Doom: The Dark Ages. However, the current downsizing raises serious questions about whether the studio can continue at the same scale. Following the id Software layoffs we previously reported, these statements suggest the situation may be more serious than it appears from the outside. While the Xbox side says the studio is continuing its operations, these words from within the team clearly indicate that the future is not as secure as it once was.

Read More: Two Names are Competing for the Role of Professor X in the X-Men Reboot