id Software Reportedly Considered Perfect Dark and John Wick-Style Ideas Before Layoffs

id Software had reportedly been exploring several concepts for upcoming projects when Microsoft’s latest round of cuts hit the studio, leaving many plans in limbo.

Key takeaways

• Out of 185 full-time staff at id Software, 92 were laid off following Microsoft layoffs.
• The reduction in headcount has put multiple in-development projects into question.
• A laid-off employee said they do not see a clearly workable path ahead, describing the response as reactive.
• id Software had recently wrapped the Doom: The Dark Ages DLC titled Revelations and was considering its next major release.
• Concepts discussed included a co-op or multiplayer Doom idea, a new Perfect Dark project, and a John Wick-like noir sci-fi game codenamed Fury for Project Helix.

Layoffs disrupt id Software’s next steps

A new report has claimed that id Software was affected by layoffs that removed more than half of the studio’s full-time workforce. The figure cited is 92 layoffs out of 185 employees, and the knock-on effect is already being felt across the studio’s plans.

At the moment, the studio’s future direction is uncertain. The report states that id Software had been working on multiple projects, but sources are unsure how the team could carry them forward with a significantly smaller staff.

One of the workers who was let go commented in conversation about the situation, saying they were not convinced there’s a viable way forward and that it feels like a series of knee-jerk responses rather than a stable long-term strategy.

Doom: The Dark Ages DLC is finished, but several concepts are on hold

id Software reportedly completed its work on the Doom: The Dark Ages DLC called Revelations. With that milestone out of the way, the studio was evaluating what its next large-scale project might be.

One possibility discussed was a co-op and/or multiplayer Doom game. The pitch would have brought back weaponry from earlier Doom entries, aiming to blend familiar arsenal design with a multiplayer-focused format.

Another idea was a new Perfect Dark game. The context here is that the Perfect Dark IP became available after Xbox shut down The Initiative and canceled its Perfect Dark reboot.

There were also mentions of a separate project codenamed Fury. The concept was framed as a way for id Software to move beyond Doom and stretch into another style of game, described as a noir sci-fi experience featuring “Chicago and Louisiana gangsters.” Like John Wick, the intended gameplay blend was martial arts alongside gunplay.

The hope for Fury was to develop it for Project Helix, Xbox’s next-generation platform initiative.

In addition, a Westworld-inspired survival game was among the other concepts being considered, though details were limited beyond that general description.

Support-studio questions and industry parallels

With all these projects in flux, it remains unclear which—if any—of the ideas will actually move into production. There’s also uncertainty about whether id Software will pivot into a support role, assisting other Xbox projects such as The Elder Scrolls 6, Wolfenstein 3, Marvel’s Blade, or additional internal efforts.

A similar kind of disruption reportedly happened last year at Turn 10 Studios, the team behind the Forza Motorsport franchise. That studio was also heavily affected by mass layoffs, and the fallout raised questions about whether Motorsport will continue as-is or whether it could be replaced by the more successful Forza Horizon lineup.