id Software Employee Speak on Uncertainty Following Xbox Reset

Xbox's restructuring with a focus on consolidating major franchises continues, with the latest news involving Halo moving to Activision, Obsidian joining Bethesda, and a round of layoffs affecting 268 people. 

A current id Software employee told Aftermath about the situation from the inside, saying things have been turbulent and there's no certainty about what comes next. The employee points out that even before layoffs, the goals were "unrealistic":

"Things are still very chaotic," they said. "While there has been an attempt to communicate to the studios, it is still entirely in bullsh*t corporate speak. I still don't believe they have a clear vision for the future. The only concrete thing they have communicated is they want higher profits, and they want it now."

"Aggressive goals are being set that would have been unrealistic even before the layoffs. ... To say the workers within Xbox have a dim view of the future is putting it mildly. We keep thinking morale can't sink lower but the obvious incompetence of Xbox management somehow keeps driving it down worse."

Insider Gaming also shared information from its anonymous sources, who said that the feeling is similar to "walking on eggshells":

"It's clear that it doesn't matter who you are, how long you've been there, or the work you've done. There doesn't really seem to be a rhyme or reason behind who stays and who goes other than, maybe, salary."

Back in July, id Software was also hit by job cuts, with reportedly half of its staff laid off back in July. This allegedly amounts to over 90 positions, with the QA department losing much of its team.