DOOM Co‑Creator John Carmack Reflects on Microsoft Layoffs at id Software

John Carmack, legendary co‑founder of id Software, has offered a poignant and nuanced response to Microsoft's sweeping layoffs that have cut roughly half of the studio—raising broader questions about the future of beloved franchises under corporate restructuring.

</div>

The Layoffs Hit at the Heart of a Legend

On July 6, 2026, Microsoft announced a sweeping restructuring of its Xbox gaming division, resulting in 3,200 job cuts—1,600 immediately and another 1,600 over the coming year—as part of a broader company‑wide layoff affecting 4,800 positions globally . Among the hardest‑hit was id Software, the studio behind iconic franchises like DOOM, Quake, and Wolfenstein. Reports indicate that approximately half the studio—136 employees, including 96 at its Texas headquarters and 40 remote staff—were laid off .

Carmack’s Measured Response

John Carmack took to social media on July 9, 2026, sharing a response that differed starkly from the anger or despair seen elsewhere. “I’m saddened, but I can’t muster anger or outrage over it,” he wrote. He acknowledged his earlier belief that “Microsoft will probably be a good steward of the brand” hasn’t aged well, especially in light of this outcome . Carmack went on to note that, while beloved, id Software may have been a “marginal business” from Microsoft’s perspective, with Minecraft revenues shouldering other studios .