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Time of India
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'SHOCK WAVES' as Doom creator John Romero announces job cuts, says: Breaks my heart to say that Romero Games fell victim to Microsoft layoffs ...
Romero Games , the studio co-founded by industry legends Brenda and John Romero , has been forced to lay off staff following a sudden decision by their publisher, Microsoft, to cancel an unannounced game. The husband-and-wife duo, known for popular titles like Doom, Quake, and Empire of Sin, confirmed the layoffs but did not disclose the number of employees affected or the specific project that was shelved. The news comes amid Microsoft's announcement of 9,100 layoffs across its gaming divisions, impacting studios such as Raven Software (Call of Duty), Turn 10 (Forza), Rare's Everwild team, and King (Candy Crush). The abrupt cancellation and job cuts have sent shockwaves through the gaming community, with fans and industry peers mourning the loss of what many believed was a promising project from the storied studio. Neither Romero Games nor Microsoft has provided further details about the canceled title. Romero Games' employee 'identifies' Microsoft Microsoft also canceled Perfect Dark and shuttered its developer, The Initiative. An employee at Romero Games, speaking anonymously to GamesBeat, identified Microsoft as the publisher behind the canceled title. 'It's a very sad day,' the employee shared in a statement. 'Romero Games fell victim to the Microsoft layoffs . This was the best team I've ever worked with and my dream job, gone just like that. It was a great project, and it's heartbreaking to see it end. It's nothing less than tragic.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo John Romero took to Twitter to express his sorrow, writing, 'These people are the best I've ever worked with, and I'm sorry to say that our game and our studio were also affected.' On LinkedIn, he praised the laid-off employees, urging other studios to hire them. Brenda Romero's complete statement on Twitter 'We have some difficult news to share. Last night, we learned that our publisher has canceled funding for our game along with several other unannounced projects at other studios. This was a strategic decision made at a high level within the publisher, well above our visibility or control. We deeply wish there had been something, anything, we could have done to prevent this outcome. This absolutely isn't a reflection of our team's work, performance, or the quality of the project itself. We hit every milestone on time, every time, consistently received high praise and easily passed all our internal gates. We are incredibly proud of the work being done, and of the talented team behind it. The best we've worked with. We're currently evaluating next steps and working quickly to support our team. Many of us have worked together for more than a decade, some for over 20 years. It's an extremely difficult day, and we're heartbroken that it's come to this. If you know of any opportunities or ways you can help our incredible team, please reach out. Thank you to everyone who's offered support and kindness and encouragement during this difficult time.' AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
The Journal
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Over 100 staff laid off as Galway-based Romero Games shuts down after funding cut
GALWAY-BASED GAME studio Romero Games has shut its doors after funding was pulled by its publisher, leaving more than 100 staff without jobs. The studio, founded in 2015 by industry veterans Brenda and John Romero, had been working on a new first-person shooter with what it described as 'a major publisher'. Multiple sources, including staff, have said the publisher in question is Microsoft, which announced 9,000 layoffs earlier this week . Brenda Romero confirmed the sudden closure in a statement today, saying the decision was 'made at a high level within the publisher well above our visibility and control.' 'This absolutely isn't a reflection of our team's work, performance or the quality of the project itself. We hit every milestone on time, every time,' she said. 'We're heartbroken that it's come to this.' The abrupt end to the project has left the studio's global workforce unemployed, including staff in Galway, Dublin, Sweden, the United States, Australia, and South Africa. Romero Games studio in Galway city. Google Maps Google Maps While company accounts for last year show Romero Games employed around 42 people directly, it is understood the broader network of developers working on the project numbered more than 100. Speaking to The Journal , one anonymous Romero Games staff member described the situation as 'a big shock'. 'Everyone is out of a job,' they said. 'We had meetings with the publisher the day before this happened, there was no mention of it. We were being told we were making great progress. So this came completely out of the blue. The employee said the team had suspected something might be coming given recent layoffs at Microsoft, but felt their project was far enough along to be safe. 'It seemed so far away for us. The title was pretty well developed at the time.' Romero Games was working under contract with the publisher, and now has no remaining funds to continue operations. Advertisement 'We're trying to find other ways of funding the project,' the employee added. 'But for now, it's completely closed, and the studio is closed.' The sudden announcement has left an 'emotional toll' on the staff, the worker said. 'It's not just about losing the job. In this kind of work, you leave a little part of your soul in what you're doing,' the staff member said. 'For people not to be able to share what they did – it's frustrating. It was work we were very proud of. For some people, it was years of their lives.' Romero Games was known for Empire of Sin, a 1920s strategy title published by Paradox Interactive in 2020. In July 2022, the studio announced that it had begun work on a new original project – a AAA (major-budget) first-person shooter built in Unreal Engine 5, a cutting-edge game development platform used for creating high-end visuals and immersive gameplay. The unnamed title was being developed in collaboration with a major publisher, now widely believed to be Microsoft, and was said to be progressing well before the abrupt cancellation. John Romero, co-founder of the company, is a celebrated figure in the industry, having helped create genre-defining titles like Doom and Wolfenstein 3D. The latest accounts for Romero Games Ltd show strong financial performance, with profits of €1.5 million in 2024 and €1.2 million in 2023, according to Business Plus . However, those earnings were tied to project-based contracts, and with no ongoing publishing support, the company was unable to continue. The Financial Services Union, through its Game Workers Unite Ireland branch, described the closure as a 'devastating blow' and said it was reaching out to affected staff. If you have been affected by the layoffs at Romero Games and need support, please reach out to us at GWUI. Freephone: 1800 81 91 91 or email:advice@ You can leave a callback request #RomeroGames — Game Workers Unite Ireland (@GWU_Ireland) July 3, 2025 'This again shows the precarity in the sector, where even high-performing, well-regarded teams can be wiped out at short notice because of decisions far beyond their control,' a spokesperson said. Brenda Romero said the company is now focusing on helping affected employees find new opportunities. 'Many of us have worked together for more than a decade, some for over 20 years,' she said. 'We are incredibly proud of the work being done and of the talented team behind it. The best we've worked with.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Original Doom Designer's New FPS Is The Latest Casualty Of The Xbox Cuts
Back in 2022, John Romero of Doom fame announced he was working on a new first-person shooter IP in Unreal Engine 5 for a 'major publisher.' Three years later the studio says it's canceled and employees claim the latest wave of massive cuts at Xbox are to blame, with one designer calling news, '[a] massive, sudden & unexpected hit on a Project that was innovative, going strong and most importantly fun.' Romero Games studio director Brenda Romero wrote in a statement that the team found out Wednesday night about the loss of funding, blaming a 'strategic decision made at a high level.' She said the team is currently 'evaluating next steps' as it tries to take care of staff, some of whom have worked together for over 20 years. While Xbox was not mentioned by name, some employees took to social media to say they'd been laid off as part of the ongoing cuts which have led to layoffs across Microsoft's gaming division, including the cancelation of Everwild, Perfect Dark, and several unannounced projects. 'These people are the best people I've ever worked with, and I'm sorry to say that our game and our studio were also affected,' John Romero wrote on X. Lead level designer on the untitled FPS, Sebastian Bica, wrote on LinkedIn, 'It's a massive, sudden & unexpected hit on a Project that was innovative, going strong and most importantly fun. The past 2+ years have been amazing, working with everybody on it was an absolute blast and I will forever keep close all of the moments and memories we've shared! It's all a shame we won't be able to see it through!' It's unclear if Romero Games will survive the cancelation. It was previously best known for the strategy RPG Empire of Sin and unofficial new Doom episodes Sigil 1 and 2. . For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
