RIP Id Software

[Psychonara]

Really feels like we're heading towards another crash of some kind; I mean indies continue to knock out great games; but the AAA and even AA markets might be dinosaurs of a fading age.

The next generation of console gaming is going to be more or less a lot of big budget live-service stuff with smaller-scale multi-platform indies splitting up the rest of the weight between themselves by appealing to more niche demographics.

I think Xbox is more or less prepared for this and is just gutting & consolidating the studios & assets they bought, especially during the pandemic when a lot of companies were panic buying a lot of stuff. All that is now bursting at the seems and a new equilibrium has to be established if console platforms like Xbox or Playstation are going to stay relevant.


While it is sad to see iD go, most of the people who built these legacy companies left long ago to either retire or pursue other ventures. A lot of these legacy studios are corporatized shells of their former selves and so a part of me shrugs at seeing them get devoured by the corporate politics & environment they aligned themselves with. I know that's a harsh take, but you should be prepared for this sort of thing when you enter that world and not assume you're too valuable to be put to sleep for any arbitrary reason and too many developers make the mistake of entering the AA & AAA environment expecting it's not going to be a more cutthroat environment than what they were used to when they were small, relatively independent studios with more complete control over their smaller projects. If you're not ready for that, then maybe go back to making GameMaker games in your mom's basement. You can at least count more on me to actually pay full price for your games if you do cause you're more likely to make something I'm genuinely interested in beyond just FOMO.

 

[bombatomba77]

Oh wow. What a bummer.

 

[BrawlMan]

Nick on about the recent lay offs at iD Software. Even with whoever remains, what does it matter when the next 1600 get laid off regardless if the game does great or not? Not to mention, you can not make art knowing you're getting screwed over or laid off for whatever dumb fucking reason.

 

[Hsp_Kolo_HsP]

Nick on about the recent lay offs at iD Software. Even with whoever remains, what does it matter when the next 1600 get laid off regardless if the game does great or not? Not to mention, you can make art knowing you're getting screwed over or laid off for whatever dumb fucking reason.

I do not see ID surviving the next wave, at best they become a minor support studio for either Bethesda or 343.

 

[KenaiPhoenix]

I wish they would just close 343 to keep Id.

Still, and even if it sounds harsh, current game industry is way too mush bloated. This is why we are where we are, and sadly this is part of the regulation before it can get better.

 

[Nidstang]

I wish they would just close 343 to keep Id.

Still, and even if it sounds harsh, current game industry is way too mush bloated. This is why we are where we are, and sadly this is part of the regulation before it can get better.

Halo made with Id Tech would be much better than Doom made with Unreal Engine.

Microsoft would be fools to close Id.

 

[Husky]

Private equity is ruining gaming. The industry is being stripped for parts. Sad to see.

 

[Don Patch]

Ho-ly SHIT!

Yo, seriously..... Microsoft sucks ass....

Post automatically merged: Today at 3:35 PM

Really feels like we're heading towards another crash of some kind; I mean indies continue to knock out great games; but the AAA and even AA markets might be dinosaurs of a fading age.

Homie, this IS the crash. We in it actively.

 

[BigTony]

I don't think Microsoft cutting the fat is necessarily a bad thing though it does suck that the hard working programmers and artists are suffering while idiots like Hugo Martin are still making six figures.

My main concern with all these layoffs at Xbox is who is going to be replacing the old employees. Right before these layoffs started Xbox was approved for over 2500 H-1B Visas I know this is a hot topic and I don't want to ruffle any feathers but these people are not being hired for their skill (though many of them are talented) they are being hired because they are cheaper and statistically less likely to unionize.

 

[Hsp_Kolo_HsP]

I don't think Microsoft cutting the fat is necessarily a bad thing though it does suck that the hard working programmers and artists are suffering while idiots like Hugo Martin are still making six figures.

My main concern with all these layoffs at Xbox is who is going to be replacing the old employees. Right before these layoffs started Xbox was approved for over 2500 H-1B Visas I know this is a hot topic and I don't want to ruffle any feathers but these people are not being hired for their skill (though many of them are talented) they are being hired because they are cheaper and statistically less likely to unionize.

Either this or the jobs won't be filledat all