"There are no benefits to being owned by Microsoft"
There's a feeling among those who spoke out that Microsoft is woefully inconsistent when setting and managing expectations. One source at id Software questioned why the company would scythe through the studio the day before a major expansion for Doom: The Dark Ages launched without pausing to understand how it would perform.
"They didn't even wait to see if the product is successful before they got rid of the team," they explained "[...] There are no benefits to being owned by Microsoft. In fact, they have destroyed immense amounts of value that I don't even think that they're aware of."
Bethesda also publicly championed the success of Doom: The Dark Ages when it launched last year, describing the threequel as the biggest launch in id Software history after it topped 3 million players. One year later, developers have been rewarded for that accomplishment with layoffs.
"It feels like we put a good product out and it just has zero effect on your longevity in the industry," said one source.
From the outside, it's unclear how Microsoft viewed the title's performance based on copies sold and the impact it had on Xbox Game Pass. It also appears to be a mystery internally, with Microsoft being accused of failing to clearly outline its parameters for success to id Software workers, leaving them unsure as to what—if anything—they could have done to save their jobs.
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