Microsoft's latest round of layoffs, which will cut 3,200 staff members over the financial year with 1,600 immediate layoffs, has raised concerns about the future of Bethesda's game lineup. However, insider reports confirm that Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake remain in active development despite significant cuts at id Software and ZeniMax Online Studios.
Studio Restructuring and Layoffs
As part of the restructuring, Xbox is parting ways with five game studios: Compulsion Games and Double Fine are returning to independent status, Ninja Theory and Undead Labs are being sold off, and Arkane Lyon is reviewing its strategic options. ZeniMax Media, owner of Bethesda, Arkane, id Software, MachineGames, and ZeniMax Online Studios, has also been hit by layoffs.
According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, id Software, the developer behind Doom, and ZeniMax Online Studios, creators of The Elder Scrolls Online, have seen a 'significant number' of staff cuts but are 'not shutting down'.
Continued Focus on Key Franchises
Before the cuts, reports suggested Xbox CEO Asha Sharma was prioritizing Halo, The Elder Scrolls, and Fallout. However, Schreier stated on BlueSky: 'ZeniMax will be impacted significantly by the reorganisation but will not be reduced to only Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, despite rumours over the last few weeks. The publisher will also still work on Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake.'
Wolfenstein 3 has been rumored for some time but never officially announced. A recent WindowsCentral report claims Microsoft is investing in MachineGames following the success of Indiana Jones And The Great Circle and the popularity of the Wolfenstein franchise. Additionally, a TV show based on Wolfenstein is in development at Amazon, suggesting Microsoft hopes to replicate the success of the Fallout TV show alongside a new game.
Future of Doom and Quake
The mentions of Doom and Quake are reassuring, though significant cuts at id Software make it difficult to predict the future of each series. Doom: The Dark Ages receives its first expansion, Revelations, tomorrow, but it's unclear if further DLC is planned. Quake hasn't had a new mainline game since 2017's Quake Champions. While a new Quake has been rumored for years, it was always MachineGames, not id Software, that was speculated to be developing it. However, MachineGames has not been large enough to handle two triple-A projects simultaneously. If Microsoft invests in them, they may aim to scale up the studio to take on that workload.
