Earlier this year, Microsoft layoffs wrecked through the games industry. Internal Xbox studios like The Initiative were closed down and mass layoffs saw Elder Scrolls Online developer Zenimax Online Studios lose half of their staff and axe their next big project. Some of those laid off developers have since started a new studio.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t just internal Xbox studios that were hit with John Romero’s own Romero Games studios caught in the crossfire. The DOOM co-creator’s next “big game” was in the works with Microsoft funding, but the gaming giant pulled out as it aimed to cut costs, despite having its best year ever. Unfortunately, the majority of the studio was laid off.
Speaking to GameReactor, John Romero explained that he has not given up on his next big project. While Microsoft’s surprise cuts have hit the studio hard, the DOOM co-creator explains that there are multiple other companies interested in bringing the project to life.
“Well, we’re still figuring out what we’re going to do with our big game,” Romero told the outlet. “We own the IP, we own the code, we own everything about the game, right? So we have a lot of companies that are interested and still working with us on it, because when you develop a game for years and you put in, say, $50 million into a game, if you move and start working with somebody else, they get $50 million for free.”
Romero explained that his next big FPS game was about “midway” through development when Microsoft pulled the plug. However, Romero explains that even if the game doesn’t get made in its original incarnation, the studio still has all of the assets to turn into another, smaller project if need be.
“Lots of people want to continue working on something, you know, and even if that doesn’t happen, you have $50 million worth of assets that you can use to make another thing,” the veteran game developer continued. “So no matter what, you are shortcutting the end of your game, right? To be able to get your game done faster, you already have a lot there already.”
At the time of writing, Romero Games is still an active studio with some developers still working on the upcoming project. However, Microsoft pulling its plug has caused the vast majority of workers to be laid off, and there’s no word on whether or not those ex employees will be pulled back in if new funding is secured.
