id Software
id Software business and news from across the web.
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Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show announces exhibitor lineup for 2026
Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show has revealed its exhibitor lineup for 2026, featuring major companies like Capcom, Bandai Namco, and The Pokémon Company, alongside Nintendo and PlayStation represented by partners. The event will also host over 70 speakers, including John Romero, who will receive a lifetime achievement award. Separately, a Valve bug has led to the accidental leak of achievement data for numerous unreleased and unannounced Steam games, including Fable, Persona 6, and Kingdom Hearts 4.
Saber CCO Tim Willits blames layoffs on games industry overspecialization: 'Studios that have a couple hundred employees that work on one game are going to struggle'
Saber Interactive CCO Tim Willits attributes some of the games industry's current struggles, including layoffs, to an overreliance on large-scale games with highly specialized teams. He suggests that studios with a more flexible approach, able to move resources between projects of varying scopes and develop smaller, unexpected hits like SnowRunner, are better positioned for survival and creative success.
"We can get any IP" - Saber CCO on why reviving dormant franchises is the big, obvious secret the the publisher's success, and why Xbox could learn from it
Saber Interactive's Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits believes the company's success stems from its strategy of reviving dormant franchises and ensuring projects can generate four times their cost. He highlighted titles like World War Z and Snow Runner as examples of profitable ventures, and suggested that larger companies like Microsoft could benefit from a similar approach by revitalizing underutilized IPs.
Saber Interactive hands-on with Hellraiser: Revival, Turok: Origins and Stuntman
Saber Interactive showcased upcoming titles Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival, Turok: Origins, and Stuntman: Hollywood at Gamescom. Hellraiser: Revival is a survival horror game set to release on October 8 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and PC. Turok: Origins is a prequel shooter with co-op, planned for early 2027. Stuntman: Hollywood revives the stunt driving series with movie-themed challenges and is slated for 2027.
"You can’t just throw new people at that problem": Bethesda devs doubt future Elder Scrolls and Fallout games will have the same "quality level", after losing seasoned staff to Xbox cuts
Unionized Bethesda Game Studios staff are expressing doubts about the company's ability to maintain its historical quality level for future Elder Scrolls and Fallout games following significant layoffs by Microsoft. Developers cite the loss of seasoned employees and institutional knowledge as critical factors that cannot be easily replaced, leading to concerns about the development of The Elder Scrolls VI and other titles. Negotiations over severance terms are ongoing, with union members feeling Microsoft's offers are insufficient.
Former id Software producer says the team faced the 'worst crunch' in the series' history on Doom: The Dark Ages – Revelations: 'There were days where I didn't see my son'
Former id Software producer Andrew Willis revealed that the team experienced severe crunch conditions while developing Doom: The Dark Ages – Revelations, describing it as the worst in the series' history. This intense period of overwork, which included days of 12-17 hour shifts, occurred shortly before many developers on the expansion team were laid off by Xbox. The article also touches on the game's sales performance relative to Doom Eternal and the studio's overall health post-layoffs.
The majority of Doom: The Dark Ages' DLC got made 'in three or four months'
Former Id Software producer Andrew Willis described the development of Doom: The Dark Ages - Revelations DLC as extremely brutal, with significant crunch time required to complete the majority of the game in three to four months. Willis reported working at least 12 hours daily for two months, with some days reaching 17 hours, and noted that many team members considered it the worst crunch they had experienced. This news follows recent layoffs at Id Software, impacting many developers who had worked on previous titles.
Microsoft is bribing people to pre-order Modern Warfare 4 on Xbox instead of PS5
Microsoft is offering a £4 Xbox gift card for pre-ordering Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on Xbox or PC, a move seen as an attempt to discourage PlayStation 5 pre-orders. This incentive comes after a disappointing reception to the game's beta and a public apology for the previous title, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. The article also touches on recent layoffs at Microsoft-owned studios like id Software.
Laid off id Software developer says crunch on Doom: The Dark Ages' Revelations DLC was "brutal" with up to 17-hour days
A former id Software developer described the crunch for Doom: The Dark Ages - Revelations DLC as "brutal," with days reaching up to 17 hours. This developer, Andrew Willis, was subsequently laid off by Microsoft along with many other id Software employees shortly after the DLC's release. The article highlights the intense working conditions and the subsequent job losses impacting the studio.
DON’T NOD Announces Restructuring to “Maintain its Competitiveness”, Might Involve Layoffs
DON'T NOD has announced a restructuring aimed at maintaining competitiveness, which is expected to involve layoffs. The company will meet with employee representatives to implement a job protection plan, with further details anticipated soon. This follows previous rumors and industry-wide concerns about job cuts.
Prästens odyssé bland häxor och troll - SULFUR har något särskilt
This analysis explores the influences and inspirations behind the game SULFUR, drawing parallels to classic 90s first-person shooters like Duke Nukem 3D and Wolfenstein 3D, as well as the roguelike Hades. The article highlights SULFUR's unique sound design, engaging gameplay loop, and well-written narrative elements.
id Software's former co-owner says they absolutely would've used gen AI back in the day: 'John Carmack…
Former id Software co-owner Tim Willits discusses the potential and current limitations of generative AI in game development, noting Saber Interactive's experiments with the technology in 'Rideshare Simulator'. He believes a groundbreaking AI-driven game, akin to 'Half-Life 2' for its impact, will eventually emerge, though acknowledges current implementations often fall short. Willits also speculates that id Software would have embraced generative AI if it were available during their pioneering days.
"Somebody will make the Half-Life 2 of AI" - after the Rideshare controversy, Saber CCO says something will come along and "change people's minds" about gen-AI
Saber Interactive's Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits believes a groundbreaking game akin to "Half-Life 2 of AI" will emerge, changing public perception of generative AI in gaming. Despite recent controversy surrounding its use in "Rideshare Stimulator," Saber is experimenting with AI, with Willits emphasizing the need for innovation and the potential for AI to create new experiences, drawing parallels to the initial skepticism surrounding Steam.
This mod transforms Doom into a terrifying tactical shooter, and it's partly inspired by another PC gaming classic
A new mod for Doom, titled Blackout, transforms the classic shooter into a slow-paced tactical experience inspired by games like Crysis and Stalker. The mod features real-life firearms with ADS and reloading, slower movement, and a focus on methodical clearing and stealth, aiming to provide a tactical military simulation-based gameplay experience.
Quake64 - Quake for the Commodore 64? Sort of!
An ambitious demake project, Quake64, is in development for the Commodore 64, aiming to bring id Software's iconic 3D shooter to the classic hardware. This project involves significant compromises, featuring a true 3D wireframe perspective, simplified enemy models, and wireframe weaponry. Development is currently focused on enemy and weapon behaviors, with level design being the most time-consuming aspect.
Hundreds of current and former devs at Microsoft-owned studios march in Save Our Devs rallies
Hundreds of current and former employees at Microsoft-owned studios participated in Save Our Devs rallies across the U.S. and Canada to protest thousands of layoffs. Protesters highlighted the anxiety among remaining employees and called out Microsoft for allegedly ignoring labor laws and setting a precedent for discarding union workers.
Evening Reading - August 20, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading for August 20, 2026, highlights various gaming news including The Duskbloods' FromSoftware-inspired experience, NBA 2K27 upgrades, Borderlands 4 lore, and Dota 2's The International 2026 details. It also features an Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC review, a unique GTA 6 promotion by the U.S. Army, and mentions of id Software's commitment to id Tech following Xbox layoffs.
id Software is “All In on id Tech”, Says Executive Producer
Executive producer Marty Stratton confirmed that id Software is fully committed to its in-house id Tech engine and will not be switching to Unreal Engine 5. Despite recent layoffs at Xbox, Stratton expressed confidence in the studio's ability to remain a technological powerhouse and continue developing great games with its proprietary technology.
Marty Stratton says id Software is 'all in on id Tech' following Xbox layoffs
Despite recent layoffs at Xbox, id Software producer Marty Stratton confirmed the studio is "all in on id Tech" and has no plans to switch to Unreal Engine. This statement comes after speculation about the studio's future following significant staff reductions.
Screw the wedding photos, I'm playing Doom on a DSLR camera like the good lord intended
A developer has created a module that allows the classic game Doom to be played on a Canon EOS 550D DSLR camera using the Magic Lantern firmware. The older camera's hardware is reportedly capable of running the game at a smooth frame rate, with its controls adapted for gameplay. This achievement adds another device to the list of unconventional hardware capable of running Doom.
