Layoffs hit id Software

Following the October release of its post-apocalyptic shooter Rage, Dallas-based id Software has decided to restructure its development team, and has laid off an undisclosed number of its staff. id parent company Bethesda Softworks (owned by ZeniMax Media) confirmed to Gamasutra that these employees were let go as part of the studio's regular internal evaluation. "As part of its standard business practice, id regularly evaluates staffing to ensure it has a workforce that meets the needs of the studio. As part of that process, some id employees were recently let go," said Bethesda VP of marketing and PR Pete Hines. Despite the layoffs, Hines added that "id is still recruiting and hiring qualified developers, and development work on future id titles continues unabated." id's most recent project, Rage, launched last year to largely positive reviews, with some critics saying the game was "nothing revolutionary" despite its well-crafted shooting mechanics. After its launch, the game became the fourth best-selling game at U.S. retail in October 2011, a month that also saw major releases such as Battlefield 3, Batman: Arkham City, Dark Souls, and Forza Motorsport 4. Rage also marked a significant development shift for the historically PC-focused id Software. Shortly after the game's debut, id co-founder and lead programmer John Carmack pointed out that the studio does "not see the PC as the leading platform for games," despite its heritage with series such as Wolfenstein, Quake, and Doom. The company is currently working on Doom 4, which was first announced in May 2008.