id Software co-director says the Doom developer is 'working more closely with MachineGames than ever' after Xbox laid off 'about half of our studio'

Id Software co-director Marty Stratton has revealed that the Doom developer is collaborating more closely with MachineGames than ever since Xbox laid off about half of the studio's employees earlier this year. In a recent press event for the Doom: The Dark Ages: Revelations DLC, Stratton addressed concerns about the studio's situation following the massive job cuts.

Stratton assured everyone that the studio is doing well, acknowledging that around half of their team was laid off as part of a deliberate effort to keep the company viable. He explained that both id Software and MachineGames have incredibly talented engineers, and the two teams are on an "amazing path" together.

While Straton's comments have sparked speculation about a possible collaboration on Wolfenstein 3, which MachineGames is rumored to be working on, the more significant development appears to be the potential alignment of their technology departments. Stratton repeatedly emphasized the importance of technology, noting that the layoffs heavily impacted the Frankfurt arm of id Software, which includes the developers of the id-tech engine.

MachineGames had previously used a modified version of id-tech 7, called Motor, for their game Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Stratton's comments suggest that id Software is incorporating MachineGames' engine programmers directly into id-tech's ongoing development, with both teams working on the engine concurrently. This approach could be a strategic move to compensate for the loss of expertise from the Frankfurt arm affected by the layoffs.

Despite the recent layoffs at Xbox, the situation may not be completely resolved. Xbox has planned further rounds of layoffs leading up to January 2027, while Microsoft has offered voluntary exit offers to over a quarter of its workforce.