The gaming industry is no stranger to turmoil, but the latest news surrounding Romero Games has left many heartbroken. Romero Games, the studio founded by iconic Doom co-creator John Romero, has announced that its team is being laid off after Microsoft pulled funding from their in-development first-person shooter project.
This move follows Microsoft’s recent round of mass layoffs, which have affected multiple Xbox studios and led to the cancellation of several high-profile projects.
In a statement, Brenda Romero, studio director at Romero Games, expressed the studio’s shock, revealing that Microsoft had pulled funding not only for their project but also for several unannounced games at other studios. Romero Games had hit every milestone and passed all internal gates, making this decision a painful surprise. Despite their success, the company found themselves caught in the crossfire of Microsoft’s corporate restructuring.
John Romero himself took to social media to share his disappointment, stating that the studio had been working on an exciting new project, one that was set to make waves in the FPS genre. Romero Games’ recent successes, including the 2019 Sigil expansion and its 2023 sequel Sigil 2, along with the mafia strategy game Empire of Sin, seemed to have set the studio on a promising path. However, with the funding being pulled, the project is now in limbo, leaving a talented team of developers out of work.
The news has struck a chord with many in the gaming community, as many lament the end of a promising project and the loss of such a talented team. Romero Games had become known for its innovation and passion, qualities that were evident in their previous works. The studio had even secured funding to expand and work on this new FPS, with Unreal Engine 5 at the heart of their efforts. Now, with Microsoft’s decision, the future of the game and the studio itself remains uncertain.
The recent news is another blow to the gaming industry, which has seen a string of cancellations and layoffs in recent months. Many are left wondering what this means for the future of gaming, and whether we will see more studios fall victim to the shifting priorities of large corporations. Romero Games, with its deep legacy and talented team, deserves better than this, and the community is left hoping that they will find a way to continue their work elsewhere.
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