New Doom Game Reportedly Enters Early Development as id Software Begins a New Era

For a while, it genuinely looked like id Software might have been one of the biggest casualties of Microsoft's recent restructuring. Reports claimed the studio had lost a large portion of its workforce, with some even suggesting it would be reduced to a support role while the future of Doom became uncertain. 

Now, however, the picture looks much different. Instead of signaling the end of one of gaming's most respected first-person shooter developers, recent updates suggest the studio is already focused on building the next Doom game.

id Software has now publicly responded to concerns about the layoffs, confirming that although the cuts were significant, the team still has the developers it needs to continue making the games and tech it is known for. 

The studio also noted that its current size is comparable to the team that made Doom (2016), which helped assuage many a fan concerned about its future. 

While the layoffs were undeniably substantial, the message from the studio suggests development isn't slowing down. Instead, work appears to be moving forward. While the layoffs were undeniably substantial, the message from the studio suggests development isn't slowing down.

Adding even more weight to that optimism, The Verge's Tom Warren, one of the more reliable XBOX insiders, has reported that a brand-new Doom game has already entered the early stages of development. Although we know very little about the project itself, the timing is interesting because it comes after the apparent conclusion of the modern Doom trilogy. 

According to multiple insider reports, Doom (2016), Doom Eternal, and Doom: The Dark Ages all exist within the same era of the franchise. With the story arc now effectively complete, id Software reportedly has the freedom to move in an altogether different direction. Now, the studio can explore new ideas instead of churning out yet another direct sequel without being chained to the existing story. 

Exactly what those ideas could involve remains unknown. The next game might introduce an entirely different setting, change the overall gameplay style, offer another interpretation of the Doom Slayer, or head in a completely unexpected direction. 

That’s a particularly exciting opportunity because the modern Doom trilogy has built one of the most impressive legacies in first-person shooter history. Doom (2016) was a successful revitalization of the franchise with its fast, aggressive combat and new identity. 

Doom Eternal took that and added even more speed and movement, while Doom: The Dark Ages was a very different game with its heavier combat and a deeper look at the origins of the Slayer. Although each game appealed to players differently, they all felt like parts of the same journey.

Now that chapter appears to be over, giving id Software the chance to rethink what Doom should become next. 

The studio could return to the cleaner, more straightforward design of Doom (2016), borrow Eternal's high-speed movement, refine mechanics introduced in The Dark Ages, or create something that looks nothing like any of those games. Perhaps the biggest advantage right now is that the developers aren't under pressure to simply make Doom Eternal 2. 

It also arrives just after the launch of the major expansion, Revelations, for Doom: The Dark Ages. According to reports, the DLC has been well received by players, adding new story missions, the Chain Spear weapon, more demons to fight, bigger arenas for combat, and plenty of reasons to go back to the game. 

Instead of constantly introducing new gameplay systems, Revelations seems to double down on the core strengths of the series. In many ways it feels almost like a farewell to this iteration of Doom before the franchise quietly starts moving in the direction of something completely different. 

The company's broader strategy might also explain why Doom seems to remain a priority amid the company's restructuring. XBOX is reportedly now focusing on fast-tracking the development of its biggest and most successful franchises rather than investing heavily in brand-new IPs. Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Wolfenstein, and Doom remain major long-term pillars of Microsoft's gaming business. 

Current reports indicate that the studio has already returned to building another Doom because Microsoft recognizes just how valuable the franchise remains. Doom continues to be one of XBOX's strongest critical and commercial series, making it a logical candidate for continued investment. 

Interestingly, Doom wasn't the only project reportedly under consideration inside the studio. 

Industry reports claim that after finishing The Dark Ages, id Software explored several very different ideas before priorities shifted. Those reportedly included a cooperative Doom experience, a shooter inspired by John Wick, an entirely new Perfect Dark concept, and several original ideas that never moved forward.

It's unclear how far any of those projects progressed before Microsoft's restructuring changed the studio's direction. Still, the reports suggest id Software was experimenting with far more than simply deciding where Doom would go next. Ultimately, however, the studio seems to have returned to the franchise that made it one of the industry's most respected developers.

The Doom community itself remains divided over what the next game should look like. Some players hope the franchise returns to the simplicity and cleaner level design of Doom (2016), while others still believe Doom Eternal represents the peak of modern Doom and want even faster combat. 

Rather than copying any one game, many believe this is the perfect opportunity for another major reinvention. After all, Doom has constantly evolved throughout its history, with nearly every major era introducing something noticeably different from what came before. 

Even so, players probably shouldn't expect to see the new game anytime soon. Everything currently points to the project being in very early development, and Bethesda has shown no indication that it's ready to reveal anything publicly. Still, after weeks of uncertainty surrounding id Software's future, the biggest news may simply be that another Doom game is officially in development.

Only a short time ago, many feared the studio had been reduced so heavily that its long-term future was in jeopardy. 

Now, id Software says it still has the developers it needs to continue making the games it's known for. Combined with insider reports claiming a new Doom has already entered development and Microsoft's continued support for the franchise, the outlook appears much more encouraging than it did only weeks ago.

The situation also makes Microsoft's layoffs feel somewhat unusual. Doom has been a consistent series over the last decade, with Doom (2016) reinvigorating the series, Eternal taking the formula even further, and The Dark Ages getting solid reviews. id Software remains one of the industry's most respected first-person shooter developers, making the loss of so many experienced employees difficult for many fans to understand.

Although the studio insists it still has the people required to continue building Doom, many players continue asking why a developer with such a successful track record needed to experience major staff reductions at all. That discussion has only intensified after fresh allegations surrounding another major XBOX studio began circulating online.

Over the past few days, YouTuber Rebs Gaming published claims from individuals described as current and former Halo Studios employees, alleging serious leadership problems inside the developer. According to those reports, employees accused studio management of poor project planning, frequent changes in direction, mistreatment of staff, and creating an unhealthy workplace where teams were reluctant to present their work. 

Even so, the claims have sparked widespread discussion throughout the Halo community because they suggest leadership issues rather than problems with the developers themselves.

That has naturally led some players to compare Halo Studios to id Software. One studio continues producing some of the highest-rated shooters in the industry, while the other has repeatedly faced reports of management struggles and troubled projects.

Of course, game development is far more complicated than comparing two studios side by side. All developers have different challenges, budgets, leadership structures, and production schedules. From the outside, however, it's easy to understand why many players feel frustrated when a consistently successful studio loses experienced developers while another continues facing reports of internal difficulties.

For now, the biggest takeaway is that Doom's future appears much brighter than it did only a few weeks ago. The franchise remains one of Microsoft's biggest priorities; ID Software says it still has the team needed to keep moving forward, and early reports suggest the next Doom is already taking shape behind the scenes. 

If the studio uses this opportunity to reinvent the series once again, the next game may not simply continue Doom's legacy—it could mark the beginning of an entirely new era for the franchise. For now, all eyes are on what ID Software chooses to build next.