"There have been reports that we've been nerfed into the ground and gutted, and we are not": id Software proclaims it's alive and well, making more DOOM games ⁠84%

By Alexander Cope⁠77%

7/17/2026, 11:00:26 AM

BS Summary: This article contains 26 faulty reasoning types, including Optimism Bias, Ambiguity (Equivocation), and Self-Serving Bias, with Negativity Bias as the most egregious example at 44.3% saturation with 310 hits. Analysis detected 1,962 faulty-reasoning hits from 699 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 75.8% and a BS Rank of ⁠84% (3,535 of 21,886 articles). This article is worse (more manipulative) than 83.90% of the article peer group.

Id Software has been through the wringer this month, as it was one of the many casualties of Xbox's big "reset" that laid off 3,200 game devs , which caused it to lose 136 of its workforce . 
id Software quickly responded by saying that despite its loss of staff, it still has the essential crew needed to make more DOOM games and that its team is roughly the same size as it was when it made DOOM (2016). 
Plenty of fans weren't entirely convinced by this statement, so id Software's Studio Head, Hugo Martin, decided to reassure the fanbase directly during a YouTube livestream playthrough of DOOM: The Dark Ages | Livestream hosted by id Software's Senior Community Lead, Joshua Boyle. 
Hugo Martin (studio head of id Software) talks about the studio and its future.“ 
There have been reports that we've been nerfed into the ground and gutted, and we are not; we have 50 people, and that's not true. 
We're the size we were when we made Doom 2016, and IDTech is very… pic.twitter.com/VM8rKFe59o July 17, 2026 
During this livestream, Hugo Martin stated that “There have been reports that we've been nerfed into the ground and gutted, and we are not; we have 50 people, and that's not true. 
We're the size we were when we made Doom 2016, and IDTech is very much alive and well." 
Hugo continues, "You have to understand, we have idTech engineers both in Frankfurt and, you know, at Machine Games; we collaborate quite a bit. 
So, you know, the IDTech is there, the Doom team is here, and we're excited to work on; to share with you guys more of what we're working on in the future when it is appropriate and approved.” 
Windows Central's take 
Reactions to id Software's layoffs have been universally reviled by the gaming community. 
Fans have sent harsh criticisms to Microsoft via its Player Voice Feedback platform (while being spurned by Bethesda's Union), and one former id Software developer even left a scathing message , saying, "I sure hope the sixth round of layoffs is worth our pain and your pleasure." 
One of the few neutral reactions to this situation was from John Carmack, one of the founders of id Software , who said, "I’m saddened, but I can’t muster anger or outrage over it, he continued, "To continue being produced long term, games need to succeed, not just be beloved. 
Games are competing with every other option for spending your leisure time and money, and the competition is brutal." 
Personally speaking, I'll believe id Software's statement that it is "not gutted and nerfed" when I see what their next game is and if the quality of it suffers from the downsized manpower it suffered thanks to Microsoft . 
The only good news from this mess is that at least DOOM: The Dark Ages | Revelation's quality hasn't suffered from these layoffs because this DLC expansion is enjoying rave reviews from critics and fans for refreshing it with DOOM: Eternal's faster-paced gunplay while adding new weapons, enemies, and more features. 
But will id Software's future projects maintain high standards of quality now that its team has been downsized? 
Will Microsoft incur even more layoffs to the point where id Software will be forced to close its doors? 
Only time will tell, and we'll be there to find out and report it. 
Explore a dark medieval world engulfed in war, experience a hidden chapter of the Doom Slayer's legend, and rip and tear the demons of hell with a giant arsenal of medieval weaponry in DOOM: The Dark Ages. 
• Steam Store Page View Deal 
The Doom Slayer has been betrayed and left for dead. 
Help him reclaim his freedom by charging through an icy hellscape filled with new horrifying demons and powerful weapons to slay them with in DOOM: The Dark Ages | Revelations. 
• Steam Store Page View Deal 
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more. 
Article reasoning-pattern comparisonThis article: 9.4%Alexander Cope: 4.0%Windows Central: 4.2%Confirmation Bias9.4%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 1.3%Windows Central: 1.0%Anchoring Bias0.0%This article: 12.2%Alexander Cope: 6.8%Windows Central: 4.6%Availability Heuristic12.2%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 1.3%Windows Central: 1.1%Representativeness Heuristic0.0%This article: 5.6%Alexander Cope: 1.8%Windows Central: 0.8%Hindsight Bias5.6%This article: 2.0%Alexander Cope: 3.5%Windows Central: 2.9%Overconfidence Bias2.0%This article: 4.0%Alexander Cope: 4.9%Windows Central: 5.0%Framing Effect4.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 1.7%Windows Central: 1.3%Loss Aversion0.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.7%Windows Central: 0.9%Status Quo Bias0.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.3%Windows Central: 0.3%Sunk Cost Effect0.0%This article: 24.9%Alexander Cope: 12.2%Windows Central: 8.0%Optimism Bias24.9%This article: 10.9%Alexander Cope: 4.0%Windows Central: 3.0%Pessimism Bias10.9%This article: 44.3%Alexander Cope: 12.9%Windows Central: 8.6%Negativity Bias44.3%This article: 19.2%Alexander Cope: 2.9%Windows Central: 1.4%Self-Serving Bias19.2%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 1.6%Windows Central: 0.9%Fundamental Attribution Error0.0%This article: 6.2%Alexander Cope: 0.6%Windows Central: 0.2%Actor-Observer Bias6.2%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.6%Windows Central: 1.2%In-Group Bias0.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.0%Windows Central: 0.1%Out-Group Homogeneity Bias0.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 6.6%Windows Central: 4.1%Halo Effect0.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.0%Windows Central: 0.1%Horn Effect0.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.0%Windows Central: 0.0%Dunning-Kruger Effect0.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 2.4%Windows Central: 2.2%Recency Bias0.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.5%Windows Central: 0.5%Primacy Effect0.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.0%Windows Central: 0.1%Blind-Spot Bias0.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.4%Windows Central: 0.2%Ad Hominem0.0%This article: 6.7%Alexander Cope: 0.2%Windows Central: 0.3%Straw Man6.7%This article: 10.6%Alexander Cope: 5.6%Windows Central: 3.7%Appeal to Authority10.6%This article: 2.6%Alexander Cope: 2.1%Windows Central: 1.7%False Dilemma2.6%This article: 2.7%Alexander Cope: 1.6%Windows Central: 1.0%Slippery Slope2.7%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.2%Windows Central: 0.1%Circular Reasoning0.0%This article: 8.0%Alexander Cope: 11.5%Windows Central: 8.5%Hasty Generalization8.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.5%Windows Central: 0.2%Red Herring0.0%This article: 1.9%Alexander Cope: 2.3%Windows Central: 1.1%Bandwagon1.9%This article: 19.0%Alexander Cope: 7.1%Windows Central: 3.8%Appeal to Emotion19.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 1.6%Windows Central: 0.9%Begging the Question0.0%This article: 5.4%Alexander Cope: 3.0%Windows Central: 2.9%Post Hoc (False Cause)5.4%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.0%Windows Central: 0.1%Tu Quoque0.0%This article: 15.0%Alexander Cope: 1.3%Windows Central: 0.5%Burden of Proof15.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.0%Windows Central: 0.1%Appeal to Nature0.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.0%Windows Central: 0.2%Composition/Division0.0%This article: 14.0%Alexander Cope: 5.4%Windows Central: 4.0%Anecdotal14.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.2%Windows Central: 0.2%No True Scotsman0.0%This article: 23.7%Alexander Cope: 2.8%Windows Central: 2.4%Ambiguity (Equivocation)23.7%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.0%Windows Central: 0.0%Gambler’s Fallacy0.0%This article: 5.4%Alexander Cope: 0.4%Windows Central: 0.2%Middle Ground5.4%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.0%Windows Central: 0.2%Personal Incredulity0.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.3%Windows Central: 0.1%Special Pleading0.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.2%Windows Central: 0.1%Genetic Fallacy0.0%This article: 3.6%Alexander Cope: 2.7%Windows Central: 3.0%Unattributed Quote3.6%This article: 4.0%Alexander Cope: 1.9%Windows Central: 1.1%Quote-first Misdirection4.0%This article: 4.0%Alexander Cope: 19.0%Windows Central: 13.9%Biased Writer Voice4.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 4.5%Windows Central: 1.9%Indoctrination0.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.1%Windows Central: 0.0%Politically Left Leaning Bias0.0%This article: 0.0%Alexander Cope: 0.0%Windows Central: 0.0%Politically Right Leaning Bias0.0%This article: 15.3%Alexander Cope: 15.3%Windows Central: 6.7%Attempt to Sell a Product or S…15.3%

699 words analyzed.

Speakers

4speakers46%attributed speech374writer words
Voice mapSelect a segment to jump to its words
Writer's voice • 28 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 38 words • 0.0% coverageid Software • 41 words • 0.0% coverageid Software • 43 words • 0.0% coverageHugo Martin • 14 words • 0.0% coverageHugo Martin • 25 words • 100.0% coverageHugo Martin • 18 words • 0.0% coverageHugo Martin • 32 words • 0.0% coverageHugo Martin • 18 words • 0.0% coverageHugo Martin • 24 words • 0.0% coverageHugo Martin • 38 words • 0.0% coverageWindows Central • 3 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 13 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 47 words • 0.0% coverageJohn Carmack • 50 words • 0.0% coverageJohn Carmack • 19 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 39 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 51 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 18 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 19 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 14 words • 0.0% coverageWriter's voice • 37 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 6 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 10 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 30 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 6 words • 100.0% coverageWriter's voice • 18 words • 100.0% coverage
Selected voice

id Software

100%flagged-word coverage
84 attributed words26% of attributed speech100% writer coverage
0%15.0%30.0%Attempt to Sell a Product -28.6 ptsWriter: 28.6%id Software: 0.0%0.0%Quote-first Misdirection-7.5 ptsWriter: 7.5%id Software: 0.0%0.0%Biased Writer Voice-7.5 ptsWriter: 7.5%id Software: 0.0%0.0%

Attribution is sentence-level. Pattern percentages are calculated only from words assigned to that voice.

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Analysis

Hover over highlighted words in the article to view the associated bias or fallacy analysis.