Microsoft Layoffs Hit id Software, Bethesda Studios

Microsoft's extensive layoffs within its Xbox division, announced yesterday by CEO Asha Sharma, have reportedly led to significant staffing reductions at prominent game development studios id Software and Bethesda. While Sharma's initial statement focused on cuts to the Xbox platform team and management layers, subsequent reports indicate a broader impact on game development talent. Scott Miller, founder of Apogee and 3D Realms, shared "insider reports" on social media suggesting that a majority of id Software's staff, including most coders, have been laid off. Michael Maynard, a programmer with credits at id Software dating back to 2011's Rage, confirmed on LinkedIn that he was part of the "roughly 50%" of the id team let go on Monday. Game Developer, citing "multiple anonymous sources," corroborated these reports, estimating the redundancies at id Software to be around 90 employees. These cuts come shortly after the launch of the first DLC pack for Doom: The Dark Ages earlier today. The full scope of layoffs at Bethesda has not been as precisely detailed, but the impact on id Software suggests a substantial restructuring within Microsoft's gaming portfolio.