Xbox Layoffs Devastate id Software and Bethesda (What's Left of the Doom Studio)

[TheGamerScene Daily News]

View this post on the web at https://thegamerscenedaily.substack.com/p/xbox-layoffs-devastate-id-software

Hey gamers,
Devastating industry news. This week’s Xbox layoffs are still reverberating through gaming—id Software lost half its staff, Bethesda got hit hard, and the future of iconic franchises is now in question. Plus Wuthering Waves launches on Game Pass TODAY, and we’ve got your weekend gaming lineup. Let’s dive in.
Thanks for reading TheGamerScene Daily News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
Xbox Layoffs Wiped Out Half of id Software’s Staff (Doom Studio in Crisis)
The gaming industry is still processing this week’s Xbox restructuring, which eliminated 3,200 jobs (1,600 immediately, 1,600 more coming over 12 months). The hardest-hit studios weren’t small teams—they were legendary developers.
The confirmed casualties
id Software (Doom, Quake):
136 workers laid off (confirmed via Texas WARN notice)
~50% of the studio gone — including most (if not all) coders per insider Scott Miller
QA department decimated
id Tech engine reportedly killed (rumored move to Unreal Engine 5)
Doom: The Dark Ages Revelations expansion still deploying, but future uncertain
Bethesda Game Studios (Fallout, Elder Scrolls):
158 people cut at ZeniMax (Texas offices)
22 layoffs at Bethesda Austin
“Many” employees at Bethesda Game Studios cut, per the Bethesda Game Workers Union
Elder Scrolls 6 team reportedly reduced
Bethesda now shifting to focus on “strongest franchises”: Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Wolfenstein, Doom, Quake
ZeniMax Online Studios (Elder Scrolls Online):
Significant cuts confirmed
Studio not closing but “cut deeply”
Former ESO dev claims the MMO “basically funded other failing projects”
Obsidian Entertainment (Avowed, Pentiment):
Impacted by cuts
Reportedly starting a new Fallout game with New Vegas director Josh Sawyer at the helm
The four studios spun off entirely
Microsoft divested from these Xbox-owned studios completely:
Compulsion Games (We Happy Few)
Double Fine Productions (Psychonauts)
Ninja Theory (Hellblade)
Undead Labs (State of Decay)
The union response
The Bethesda Game Workers Union posted a scathing statement: “In what is becoming a stressful annual routine, Microsoft has decided to lay off thousands, including MANY of us at Bethesda Games Studios. With over 10k developers already cut from previous rounds, those at the top have deemed that insufficient in fixing their mistakes.”
“Save Our Devs” rally planned for July 15 by Xbox union workers.
Why this happened
Microsoft is shifting $2.5 billion into AI implementation, and Xbox Game Pass currently sits at 30 million subscribers—less than half of Microsoft’s original 77 million by mid-2026 target.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said no first-party “publicly announced” games will be cancelled, but with entire teams gutted, developers question how remaining projects will ship on schedule.
What this means for gamers
Uncertain futures for:
Doom franchise (id Tech engine possibly ending)
Elder Scrolls 6 (still no release date)
Elder Scrolls Online (financial questions)
Multiple Bethesda projects
Confirmed continuing:
Doom: The Dark Ages Revelations expansion (July 2026)
Fallout new game (Obsidian, TBA)
Elder Scrolls 6 (still in development, no date)
Read our complete Xbox layoffs breakdown at thegamerscene.news → [ https://link.sbstck.com/redirect/3bb853bc-0842-4df9-8a0a-e05eb0ff58f3?j=eyJ1IjoiN3A2MWozIn0.YRN2YwNG0HqFxemR3daCLb-UZMXA4tOgW1oRDnkbq00 ]
Wuthering Waves Launches on Game Pass TODAY (Free-to-Play RPG Hits Xbox)
Wuthering Waves, the popular story-rich open-world action RPG, is available on Xbox Game Pass RIGHT NOW for Ultimate, Premium, Essential, and PC Game Pass subscribers.
What it is
An open-world action RPG with a high degree of freedom, developed by Kuro Games. Explore vast environments, master combat with multiple characters, and uncover mysteries in a world reshaped by cataclysm.
Game Pass exclusive rewards
Log in after each version update to unlock special in-game rewards:
x2 Morphable Echo
x10 Premium Tuner
x30,000 Shell Credit
One-time bonus: Exclusive Xbox Sigil “Paths and Possibilities”
Where to play
Now available:
Xbox Series X/S (Game Pass)
PC (Game Pass)
Also available (not on Game Pass):
PlayStation 5
iOS, Android
Download Wuthering Waves on Game Pass → [ https://link.sbstck.com/redirect/adb00723-bedb-477c-a53a-03849d790eb1?j=eyJ1IjoiN3A2MWozIn0.YRN2YwNG0HqFxemR3daCLb-UZMXA4tOgW1oRDnkbq00 ]
This Weekend’s Best Releases
Here’s what to play this weekend across all platforms:
Today (July 10):
Kowloon Generic Romance — First-person indie horror on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Set in the walled city, players search for affordable housing and encounter unsettling reality. Short, single-sitting experience.
Wuthering Waves — Game Pass day-one (covered above)
Coming July 13-17:
Ascend to Zero (July 13) — Action roguelike, Game Pass day-one
PBA Pro Bowling 2026 (July 14) — Realistic bowling sim, Game Pass day-one
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check (July 15) — Now on Game Pass Premium
FixForce (July 17) — Co-op extraction platformer, Game Pass day-one
Fogpiercer (July 17) — Sci-fi roguelike deckbuilder on rails
Still available:
Halo: Campaign Evolved (launched July 28 in leaks, verified this week) — Game Pass day-one, first Halo on PS5 ever
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag: Resynced — Ubisoft’s full remake with reworked missions
Quick Hits
🎮 Palworld hits 40 million copies sold since Early Access debut (Pocketpair confirms)
📊 Xbox Game Pass at 30 million subscribers — Well below Microsoft’s 77 million target
🏴‍☠️ GTA 6 pre-orders continue strong — Rockstar hasn’t revealed numbers but Trailer 3 dropped last week
🎨 Bethesda focusing on Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Wolfenstein, Doom, Quake — Other franchises deprioritized
🕹️ Xbox CEO Asha Sharma joins Federal Reserve advisory — Will advise on AI economic impact
Read all Quick Hits at thegamerscene.news → [ https://link.sbstck.com/redirect/3bb853bc-0842-4df9-8a0a-e05eb0ff58f3?j=eyJ1IjoiN3A2MWozIn0.YRN2YwNG0HqFxemR3daCLb-UZMXA4tOgW1oRDnkbq00 ]
What to Play This Weekend
Now: Wuthering Waves (Game Pass) — Free-to-play open-world RPG
Now: Kowloon Generic Romance — Indie horror, single-session experience
Now: Halo: Campaign Evolved — Original Halo fully remade
Now: Assassin’s Creed Black Flag: Resynced — Ubisoft remake with new features
More on The Gamer Scene
Complete Xbox Layoffs Timeline: What Was Lost → [ https://link.sbstck.com/redirect/3bb853bc-0842-4df9-8a0a-e05eb0ff58f3?j=eyJ1IjoiN3A2MWozIn0.YRN2YwNG0HqFxemR3daCLb-UZMXA4tOgW1oRDnkbq00 ]
Every studio affected, every project at risk
id Software Crisis: Doom’s Uncertain Future → [ https://link.sbstck.com/redirect/3bb853bc-0842-4df9-8a0a-e05eb0ff58f3?j=eyJ1IjoiN3A2MWozIn0.YRN2YwNG0HqFxemR3daCLb-UZMXA4tOgW1oRDnkbq00 ]
What happens to id Tech and future Doom games
Wuthering Waves Complete Beginner’s Guide → [ https://link.sbstck.com/redirect/3bb853bc-0842-4df9-8a0a-e05eb0ff58f3?j=eyJ1IjoiN3A2MWozIn0.YRN2YwNG0HqFxemR3daCLb-UZMXA4tOgW1oRDnkbq00 ]
Best characters, builds, and progression tips
Bethesda’s New “Strong Franchises” Focus → [ https://link.sbstck.com/redirect/3bb853bc-0842-4df9-8a0a-e05eb0ff58f3?j=eyJ1IjoiN3A2MWozIn0.YRN2YwNG0HqFxemR3daCLb-UZMXA4tOgW1oRDnkbq00 ]
Which games are safe, which are cut
Visit thegamerscene.news for more gaming news → [ https://link.sbstck.com/redirect/3bb853bc-0842-4df9-8a0a-e05eb0ff58f3?j=eyJ1IjoiN3A2MWozIn0.YRN2YwNG0HqFxemR3daCLb-UZMXA4tOgW1oRDnkbq00 ]
How are you feeling about this week’s layoffs? Hit reply and share your thoughts—this one hits different for id Software fans.
Thanks for reading The Gamer Scene! Have a good weekend. Support your favorite indie devs where you can. See you Monday.
— Romello
thegamerscene.news [ https://link.sbstck.com/redirect/3bb853bc-0842-4df9-8a0a-e05eb0ff58f3?j=eyJ1IjoiN3A2MWozIn0.YRN2YwNG0HqFxemR3daCLb-UZMXA4tOgW1oRDnkbq00 ]
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