Despite the layoffs, the studio still prefers the id Tech engine to the Unreal Engine, which is commendable.

Xbox’s latest wave of layoffs has affected virtually every studio, from those that have become independent, such as Tim Schafer’s Double Fine, to those that no one would have thought were at risk, such as Bethesda Game Studios. This unfortunate situation will result in the loss of 3,200 jobs by next July. Id Software was hit particularly hard by the layoffs—so much so that the future of the id Tech engine, which powers the DOOM series and MachineGames’ Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, has been called into question. According to executive producer Marty Stratton, the developer will not switch from its in-house technology to Unreal Engine 5 because they have full confidence in it.

While id Software will continue to work on the impressive id Tech engine, the future of the DOOM series developer remains fraught with challenges. While the studio received a confidence boost from the community during QuakeCon, Stratton emphasized that the studio’s future—and ultimately its viability—depends on what it can deliver. Despite the layoffs significantly reducing the studio’s size, Stratton, with his 26-year career, continues to look to the future with optimism.

“We’re all in on id Tech. We’re not switching to Unreal Engine. Yesterday, we had a meeting with five or six tech directors. Sometimes, I wish the audience could have been in that meeting to see how excited we are about this technology. I don’t think people should worry. We’re going to continue being a tech powerhouse. Ultimately, the verdict will be in how we move forward, what we deliver to fans, and whether that meets the bar. That’s how we approach every project. That’s how we’re approaching our next project. When I started, there were 12 of us. We finished DOOM 3 with 19 people. I know it was a long time ago. It’s an old game. Things change. We go through lots of transitions, but every single dev project is different, depending on the combination of people, technological capability, and design ambition. I really believe in our team’s ability to create amazing work moving forward,” Stratton told Windows Central.

Since DOOM: The Dark Ages didn’t top the sales charts quite as much as its predecessor, it remains to be seen how id Software will approach its next project. Whether it’s a more traditional game or an experimental one like the latest installment in the popular series, we hope the studio succeeds. After all, id Software has played a defining role in the gaming industry for a very long time.

Source: WCCFTech, Windows Central