Xbox layoffs hit id Software; SyncError and sponge let go
The ongoing restructuring of Microsoft's Xbox gaming division has affected id Software. According to GameSpot, the developer lost 95 employees during the initial wave of layoffs. Bloomberg's Jason Schreier confirmed that while id Software and ZeniMax Online Studios are not closing, both are reducing their staff as part of a broader corporate shift.
Bethesda is narrowing its focus to five main brands — Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Doom, Wolfenstein and Quake—meaning the IP itself remains part of the company's core roadmap. However, the personnel behind the franchise has been significantly reduced. Long-time developers SyncError and sponge are reportedly among those let go in the layoffs. SyncError was actively managing the latest updates for Quake Champions, and both he and sponge previously handled the development and maintenance of Quake Live.
While Xbox executive Asha Sharma stated that no publicly announced projects are being canceled, these departures mark a major shift in the internal team structure responsible for the series.
Bethesda is narrowing its focus to five main brands — Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Doom, Wolfenstein and Quake—meaning the IP itself remains part of the company's core roadmap. However, the personnel behind the franchise has been significantly reduced. Long-time developers SyncError and sponge are reportedly among those let go in the layoffs. SyncError was actively managing the latest updates for Quake Champions, and both he and sponge previously handled the development and maintenance of Quake Live.
While Xbox executive Asha Sharma stated that no publicly announced projects are being canceled, these departures mark a major shift in the internal team structure responsible for the series.
