Laid off id Software developer says crunch on Doom: The Dark Ages' Revelations DLC was "brutal" with up to 17-hour days

Doom: The Dark Ages - Revelations, a DLC expansion, was launched in July, just as Microsoft revealed its massive 3,200 employee layoffs. The layoffs included the entire Xbox studio roster, such as id Software, which had spent weeks working around the clock to release Revelations timely. Producer Andrew Willis stated that the team worked "at least 12 hours every day" leading up to the launch.

He recounted days when he worked 17-hour stretches, citing the brutal nature of the crunch and the sacrifices made to ensure the game's quality. Willis emphasized that the layoffs hit id Software particularly hard, with over half of its members being let go. The studio's size post-layoffs was debated, with some arguing it was severely reduced, losing key personnel responsible for the id Tech engine and other critical roles.

Andrew Willis explained that the team was not forced into crunch but felt compelled due to overwhelming workloads. He noted that the team's sacrifices were to meet the high standards players expect. Willis also shared that some long-time Hollywood and game development veterans found the crunch to be the worst they had experienced.