Microsoft fire idTech team at Id software(gamefromscratch.com)
609 points by bauc 20 hours ago | 548 comments
tl;dr: Microsoft has laid off most or all developers working on the idTech engine at id Software as part of a massive Xbox restructuring that will eliminate roughly 3,200 roles through FY27, including 1,600 immediately, plus divest four studios. The cuts include 20+ year id veteran Michael Maynard, raising questions about the future of idTech, one of the most influential game engines in FPS history.
HN Discussion:
  • Layoffs reflect cost-cutting strategy to replace expensive in-house engine expertise with cheap UE5 contractors
  • Microsoft blundered by not open-sourcing idTech, handing Epic a game engine monopoly
  • Microsoft is destroying unique studio cultures and homogenizing acquired studios into generic content factories
  • Article lacks evidence that idTech coders were specifically let go, and talent may thrive outside Microsoft
  • Loss of idTech weakens Vulkan adoption on Windows and pressure on GPU vendors to optimize drivers