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Id Software co-founder John Carmack "can’t muster anger or outrage" over Xbox gutting the Doom studio, but does say it'll "dampen the mood of the founder reunion"
Id Software co-founder John Carmack expressed sadness but not anger over the recent layoffs at the studio, suggesting that the company may have been a marginal business for Microsoft. He believes games need to succeed financially to continue being produced and that executives aren't always the problem, though he acknowledges the possibility. Carmack hopes the studio can recover despite the uncertain future.
Bethesda union staff to march outside studios over Xbox layoffs: 'The company wants us to accept this as a done…
Bethesda developers, organized as the OneBGS union, are planning a protest march across studios on July 15th to oppose recent layoffs by Xbox. The union criticizes these layoffs as a recurring issue and aims to show management the adverse impact on remaining staff and studio talent, citing significant staff reductions at Zenimax Online Studios and id Software, and the closure of studios responsible for games like Hi-Fi Rush and Prey.
Own goal specialist Xbox rifles another into the roof of the net - Patch Notes #60
Xbox announced significant layoffs, impacting approximately 3,200 employees across various studios including id Software, ZeniMax Online Studios, Double Fine, Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs. Xbox boss Asha Sharma cited a need to eliminate management layers and create a flatter organization, though many of the affected employees are senior staff integral to game production. This marks the fifth major round of layoffs at Xbox in three years, with unions like CWA Canada criticizing Microsoft's handling of the situation.
Id Software founder John Carmack mourns layoffs: "Games need to succeed, not just be beloved"
Id Software co-founder John Carmack expressed sadness over recent layoffs affecting over half of the studio's workforce, attributing the cuts to increasing business pressures rather than executive malice. He reflected on the need for games to be commercially successful, not just critically acclaimed, to ensure long-term production, and pondered potential design or marketing changes that could have improved Id's financial standing.
Is Black Flag Resynced on Game Pass?
The remake of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, titled 'Black Flag Resynced,' is not currently available on Xbox Game Pass, and no release date has been announced. While many previous Assassin's Creed titles have eventually come to the service, there is no guarantee for the remake. The original 2013 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is available on Game Pass, and 'Black Flag Resynced' is also accessible via the Ubisoft+ Premium subscription on PC.
Elder Scrolls 6 faces delays as Microsoft lays off people that were making it
Bethesda Game Studios employees are concerned that The Elder Scrolls 6 may face significant delays following recent layoffs impacting over 50 staff members, including a 27-year veteran. These cuts, part of broader Xbox layoffs, have raised fears about project timelines, potential reliance on contract labor, and a decline in studio morale, especially after the reception of Starfield.
"We are the best allies to game devs": Skyrim modder shows solidarity with laid off Bethesda workers by draping union logos across Tamriel
A Skyrim modder named Elianora has created a mod called 'United Front' to show solidarity with recently laid-off Bethesda workers. The mod adds union logos to shields and banners within the game, encouraging players to raise awareness for the 'Save Our Devs March' organized by the OneBGS union. This action aims to send a message to Microsoft regarding the recent layoffs affecting Bethesda and other Xbox-owned studios.
Xbox leader Asha Sharma has joined a US government task force for employment, days after announcing restructuring that has left thousands of people without jobs
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has joined a US Federal Reserve task force focused on productivity and employment, days after announcing a significant restructuring at Xbox that led to 3200 job losses. Sharma, who has a background in AI and previously worked at Meta, will advise on the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce.
'We mean business:' Xbox union workers fighting back with 'Save Our Devs' rally on July 15
Unionized workers at Bethesda Game Studios, under the OneBGS banner, are organizing a 'Save Our Devs' rally on July 15 to protest recent mass layoffs across Xbox and ZeniMax studios. The union aims to negotiate preferential transfers, stronger severance packages, and recall rights for affected employees, rejecting Microsoft's framing of the cuts as an 'entrepreneurial change'.
id Software Now Has “Roughly the Same” Number of Workers as When it Made DOOM (2016) – Rumor
Reports suggest id Software's current workforce is similar to when it developed DOOM (2016), despite rumors of significant layoffs impacting its engine development and QA teams. Microsoft confirmed that dozens of employees work on the id Tech engine across multiple locations, refuting claims of a drastically reduced headcount. The studio will continue to use its proprietary id Tech engine, with no plans from Xbox to switch to Unreal Engine.
Avowed 2 Has Not Been Cancelled Following Layoffs at Obsidian – Rumor
Despite recent layoffs at Obsidian Entertainment and rumors of cancellation, former co-founder Chris Avellone has stated that Avowed 2 is still in development and the studio hopes to "re-pitch" the concept. While some projects are being re-evaluated, expansions for The Outer Worlds 2 are still planned, and Grounded is continuing development.
How do you put a price tag on a legacy like id Software's?
The article discusses the recent layoffs at id Software and contrasts Microsoft's handling of the studio's legacy with Costco's long-standing commitment to its $1.50 hot dog price. It questions Microsoft's stewardship of id Software's influential franchises like Doom and its proprietary id Tech engine, suggesting a lack of appreciation for their historical and creative value compared to their financial performance.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma joins US Federal Reserve as adviser on AI for "productivity and jobs" taskforce
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has been appointed as an external adviser to the US Federal Reserve, focusing on artificial intelligence's impact on productivity and jobs. Sharma will lead a taskforce assessing the economic effects of new technologies, including AI, to inform the Fed's policy decisions. This appointment comes shortly after Sharma announced significant layoffs at Xbox and follows her previous role leading Microsoft's CoreAI product group.
Business and Finance
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has been appointed as an advisor to a U.S. Federal Reserve task force focused on productivity and jobs. This appointment highlights the growing recognition of the gaming industry's economic impact.
Evening Consolidation
Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops II have been ported to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 by Iron Galaxy, as announced by Treyarch. Additionally, an Xbox Insider Playtest for Wreck Runners is now open.
Days after announcing mass layoffs, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma tapped to advise the Federal Reserve on jobs
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has been appointed to advise the Federal Reserve on job-related matters, just days after Xbox announced significant layoffs. This appointment highlights her expertise in employment trends and workforce dynamics.
John Carmack reacts to massive layoffs at id Software: 'My 'Microsoft will probably be a good steward of the…
Co-founder of id Software, John Carmack, has commented on the recent layoffs at the studio, expressing disappointment that his previous statement about Microsoft being a good steward of the brand "isn't aging well." While saddened, Carmack stated he doesn't "muster anger or outrage," suspecting id Software was a marginal business for Microsoft. He also discussed hypothetical strategies that could have prevented the team's decimation, while co-founder John Romero expressed grief for those affected.
Xbox layoff hatchetwoman & CEO tapped by Federal Reserve for 'jobs & productivity' task force
Asha Sharma, who recently oversaw layoffs of approximately 3,200 employees at Xbox, has been appointed as an advisor to a new Federal Reserve task force focused on jobs and productivity. Sharma, who has a background in artificial intelligence at Microsoft, will join other prominent figures to assess the economic impact of new technologies like AI.
Carmack says his 'Microsoft will be a good steward' of the id Software brand take didn't age well
Following significant layoffs at id Software amidst a broader Xbox reorganization, co-founder John Carmack expressed sadness and acknowledged that his previous statement about Microsoft being a good steward of the brand has not aged well. Carmack suspects id Software may have been a marginal business for Microsoft, contributing to the cuts despite recent releases like Doom: The Dark Ages.
Asha Sharma joins Federal Reserve advisory task force days after laying off thousands at Xbox
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has been appointed to a new US Federal Reserve task force focused on productivity and jobs, specifically examining the economic impact of artificial intelligence. This appointment follows Xbox's announcement of significant layoffs affecting thousands of employees and several game studios, including Double Fine and Ninja Theory.
