id Software lead programmer Chris Hays reflects on recent layoffs and criticizes executives across the industry, arguing they’re disconnected from the realities of game development.
When XBOX announced mass layoffs, one of the hardest-hit studios was DOOM developer id Software. The studio laid off at least 136 employees, with reports suggesting that many were part of the id Tech team.
They would later issue a statement saying they had the number of people they needed to build the games they’re known for, remarking that the team was about the same size as the one they had when building DOOM in 2016.
Now, Chris Hays, a veteran of the studio and still listed as the lead software programmer on LinkedIn, has weighed in on the layoffs. He speaks candidly about how much they affected morale and how he feels about the executives above id.
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Chris Hays Reflects on XBOX Layoffs and Criticizes Gaming Executives
Appearing on the Auf ein Bier YouTube channel, Hays stated that the team at id had always been concerned that layoffs were possible and remarked that morale had never been lower. Still, he commended those who were affected for handling the situation with Grace and still trying to do what they could to ensure that, moving forward, the teams would be able to complete their work.
“It was so inhumane. It was demoralizing, and morale has never been lower,” he said.
Moving forward, Hays would criticize the games industry at large, arguing that executives across the industry may understand marketing and sales numbers, but they are disconnected from the reality of what it takes to make a good game.
“I think that even in companies that are exclusively making games, especially the larger publishers at the top, I think they fundamentally don’t understand what makes the business. They may understand the numbers for marketing and for sales, but the actual reality of what makes a good game a good game, how it gets done, they’re so disconnected from that they don’t understand what it takes to build a team, what it takes to maintain a team. Failures are important, too,” he said.
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