Key Takeaways
- Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has confirmed that id Software is officially working on its next game following the studio’s difficult year.
- Hugo Martin, who previously directed DOOM Eternal and DOOM: The Dark Ages, will return as game director for the new project.
- The upcoming game is being developed by id Software’s teams in Texas and Frankfurt, although its title, genre, platforms, and release date remain unannounced.
- DOOM: The Dark Ages is also receiving Slaughter Mode on November 16, 2026, as a free update for eligible Revelations and Premium Edition owners.
- More than 20 former id Software developers have also formed a new employee-owned studio called Hidden Horses, which is working on its debut FPS, Danger Pay.
Despite a difficult year for Xbox and several major changes across its development studios, there is finally some encouraging news for fans of id Software. The legendary studio behind DOOM and Quake is officially working on its next game, with Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirming that development is already underway.
The announcement is particularly important considering the uncertainty surrounding id Software following Microsoft’s massive layoffs earlier this year. The studio was significantly affected by the cuts, leading to concerns about its ability to continue developing major projects with a smaller team.
Fortunately, those worries haven’t stopped the developer from moving forward. id Software has now confirmed that its next project is being developed by its teams in Texas and Frankfurt, with Hugo Martin returning as game director. Martin has been closely associated with the modern DOOM games, making his involvement an interesting development for longtime FPS fans.
The announcement also arrives alongside another reason for players to revisit DOOM: The Dark Ages, as Bethesda is preparing to introduce a new Slaughter Mode on November 16.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma Confirms id Software’s Next Game
The news was initially shared by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma on November 12 as part of the celebrations surrounding the original Xbox’s 25th anniversary. Sharma praised id Software’s influence on the first-person shooter genre before revealing that the developer was already working on its next game.
Her announcement also highlighted the upcoming Slaughter Mode update for DOOM: The Dark Ages | Revelations, which is scheduled to arrive on November 16.
Following Sharma’s post, the official id Software account provided additional information about the mysterious project, confirming that developers from both its Texas and Frankfurt teams are working together on the game.
More importantly, the studio confirmed that Hugo Martin will once again serve as game director. However, fans should not expect a complete reveal anytime soon. id Software explained that it will be some time before the team is ready to share more information, although developers are already excited about what they are creating.
At the moment, there is no official title, gameplay footage, release window, or confirmed list of platforms for the upcoming project. The studio has also not confirmed whether it is working on another DOOM game, a new Quake entry, or an entirely different intellectual property.
Given Martin’s history with DOOM, it would be easy to assume that the next project belongs to the franchise. However, that remains speculation until id Software provides more details.
Hugo Martin Returns as Director After DOOM: The Dark Ages
Hugo Martin’s involvement is arguably the most interesting part of the announcement. He has played a major role in shaping the modern DOOM franchise and has been closely associated with some of its most successful entries.
Martin worked as creative director on DOOM (2016), helping bring the franchise back with a faster, more aggressive approach to first-person shooter combat. He subsequently directed DOOM Eternal, which expanded the formula with additional movement mechanics, enemy variety, and more demanding combat encounters.
He also served as game director on DOOM: The Dark Ages, the latest mainline entry in the franchise, which explored a more medieval-inspired interpretation of the DOOM universe.
His return suggests that id Software is once again placing one of its most recognizable creative figures in charge of a major project. That should be encouraging news for fans who have enjoyed the direction of the modern DOOM games.
However, Martin’s involvement does not automatically confirm that the studio is developing DOOM 3 or another direct sequel. His experience with the franchise makes such speculation understandable, but the developer has deliberately kept the identity of its next game under wraps.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Gets Free Slaughter Mode Update on November 16
While fans wait to learn more about id Software’s next major project, DOOM: The Dark Ages is getting another reason to bring players back. Bethesda has officially announced Slaughter Mode, a new endless combat challenge arriving on November 16, 2026.
The mode is part of DOOM: The Dark Ages | Revelations and will be available at no additional cost to players who own the Revelations expansion, the Premium Edition, or the Premium Upgrade.
Unlike the standard campaign, Slaughter Mode focuses on surviving increasingly dangerous rounds of randomized demon encounters. Players will fight through different enemies, bosses, and arenas, with each run bringing new challenges and requiring adjustments to their combat strategies.
One of the more interesting features is its risk-and-reward progression system. Players earn special Skulls by completing rounds, which can then be used to unlock additional rewards.
At certain checkpoints, players must decide whether to secure the Skulls they have already collected or continue fighting for a larger reward. Choosing to secure them protects the current earnings, while selecting the Risk It option increases the potential Skull multiplier.
There is a catch, though. Players who choose to risk their rewards and subsequently die will lose all unsecured Skulls from that run. This creates an interesting decision between playing safely and pushing further into increasingly dangerous encounters.
Slaughter Mode also includes several unlockable rewards, including exclusive Slayer skins, weapon skins, profile icons, and tracks from Andrew Hulshult’s IDKFA soundtrack. The unlocked music can also be played in the Ripatorium.
There will also be weekly challenges, giving players additional opportunities to earn rewards and improve their performance.
Players who want to learn more about the new mode can visit the official Slaughter Mode announcement from Bethesda.
id Software Faced Major Layoffs Earlier This Year
Although the announcement of a new game is encouraging, it comes after a particularly difficult period for id Software. The studio was among the developers affected by Microsoft’s massive Xbox restructuring in July 2026, with a significant number of employees losing their jobs.
The layoffs raised serious questions about the studio’s future, particularly because they came immediately before the release of DOOM: The Dark Ages’ Revelations expansion.
Concerned fans began questioning whether id Software would still have enough employees to develop the kinds of games and technology the studio has become known for.
id Software subsequently issued an official statement to address those concerns, explaining that although the studio had been affected, the remaining teams still had the people needed to build its games and technology.
The developer also revealed that its current headcount was approximately the same as when it was making DOOM (2016). It reassured fans that the team would continue developing its projects and confirmed that it would still participate in QuakeCon 2026.
The latest announcement provides another indication that the studio is continuing to operate as a game developer rather than simply supporting other Xbox projects. However, it is still too early to know how the smaller team will affect the scope and development timeline of its next release.
Former id Software Developers Form New Studio Hidden Horses
Interestingly, not all the former id Software developers affected by Microsoft’s layoffs have left the gaming industry. More than 20 former employees have joined forces to establish a new independent studio called Hidden Horses.
The new developer is an employee-owned venture, with its members sharing ownership and aiming to create games without being driven by short-term financial targets or aggressive growth expectations.
Hidden Horses has already announced its first project, titled Danger Pay, which is described as a high-octane single-player first-person shooter.
The game takes inspiration from the classic arcade title Smash TV and the 1987 film The Running Man. Its premise revolves around a dangerous televised game show controlled by a sinister but charming artificial intelligence host.
Players can expect traditional FPS gameplay, powerful weapons, unusual enemies, and a focus on optimization. Considering the team’s previous experience at id Software, it will be interesting to see what these developers can achieve with a project of their own.
Hidden Horses plans to support the development of Danger Pay through a Kickstarter campaign. However, the studio has not confirmed a release date, target platforms, or final funding requirements.
The formation of Hidden Horses also highlights one of the unfortunate consequences of Microsoft’s restructuring. While id Software is moving ahead with a new game, some of the developers responsible for its previous projects are now attempting to establish an independent studio and continue making the type of shooters they enjoy.
What Could id Software’s Next Game Be?
With Hugo Martin returning as game director, speculation about id Software’s next project is already beginning. The obvious possibility is another DOOM game, especially considering Martin’s involvement in the three modern entries.
However, Quake is another franchise that fans would love to see return. The series helped establish id Software as one of the most influential developers in FPS history, and it has been years since players received a completely new mainline entry.
There is also the possibility of an entirely new intellectual property. The studio has experience creating new gameplay systems and building technologies that have influenced the broader shooter genre, so it would not be surprising to see it attempt something different.
For now, none of these possibilities has been confirmed. The only official details are that the project is in development, involves id Software’s teams in Texas and Frankfurt, and is being directed by Hugo Martin.
Between the upcoming Slaughter Mode update and the confirmation of its next game, id Software has given fans plenty of reasons to be optimistic about its future. The studio’s difficult year is far from forgotten, but at least its next chapter appears to be taking shape.
For more information about the studio and its upcoming projects, players can follow the official Bethesda announcement celebrating Xbox’s 25th anniversary.
