id Software Devs Say Microsoft Cuts Make AAA Games Impossible

Overview

• Microsoft announced a broad Xbox reset that will eliminate 3,200 jobs with 1,600 roles cut immediately and id Software losing about 136 positions.
• id Software lead services programmer Chris Hays told podcasters that halving the studio’s head count makes producing past triple-A work effectively impossible and that morale is at a low point.
• Hays and other staff said the cuts have 'burned a lot of bridges,' hurting recruitment, damaging trust in studio and corporate leadership, and prompting discussion of unionisation at the studio level.
• Microsoft and id issued public reassurances that the studio remains operational, while Microsoft pointed to sharply higher storage and memory costs and announced planned console price increases as part of its rationale.
• Industry observers and devs warn the moves could reduce teams’ ability to learn from failure, lower long-term game quality, and leave uncertainty about the second tranche of cuts and their operational impact.