id Software has laid off 136 employees, more than half its workforce, as part of broader Microsoft job reductions.
The cuts at the developer of Doom and Quake came during a week when Microsoft eliminated 1,600 positions, with another 1,600 Xbox roles still at risk. The studio issued a statement noting that while it was impacted, it retains the team needed for its games and technology.
Game director Hugo Martin said the studio is the size it was during development of Doom 2016 and that id Tech remains active. Reports indicate the reduced team has started early work on a new Doom game.
The layoffs affected 158 Xbox workers in Texas, including id Software and ZeniMax Media staff, of whom 146 were union members. One long-term employee known as number 13, who joined during the Romero and Carmack era, was among those let go.
id Software recently released the Revelations expansion for Doom: The Dark Ages.
