Doom co-creator John Romero has confirmed that his studio’s previously cancelled shooter is back in development, with a new publisher, a smaller team and a completely redesigned vision.
Romero Games is getting another chance at bringing its next first-person shooter to life after securing a new publishing agreement following the cancellation of its previous deal with Microsoft.
Speaking to Video Games Chronicle during Gamescom Asia, legendary game developer John Romero confirmed that the studio has found a new publisher and rehired several former employees to continue development.
The announcement comes after Romero Games lost funding for its unannounced shooter as part of Microsoft’s wider restructuring earlier this year, forcing the studio to significantly reduce its workforce.
However, rather than abandoning the project entirely, Romero and his remaining team have redesigned the game around a much smaller development team.
Romero Games Rebuilds After Losing Xbox Funding
The original project was being developed by a team of approximately 110 employees before Microsoft withdrew its publishing support.
According to Romero, the studio initially attempted to retain as many employees as possible while searching for alternative funding.
Unfortunately, those efforts proved unsustainable, eventually forcing Romero Games to reduce its workforce to just five people.
Despite the setback, Romero confirmed that the studio retained complete ownership of the original project’s intellectual property, technology, artwork and other assets.
This allowed the remaining developers to explore a new direction without having to start entirely from scratch.
Romero explained that he eventually contacted someone within the industry and successfully negotiated a new publishing agreement.
Although the identity of the publisher remains confidential, the deal has allowed Romero Games to resume development and begin rebuilding its team.
Romero Games Rehires Former Developers
Following the new publishing agreement, Romero Games has rehired 10 former employees, primarily leads from the original development team.
The studio now consists of approximately 15 to 16 developers, a considerable reduction from its previous workforce.
However, Romero believes the smaller team is better suited to the studio’s new direction.
Rather than attempting to complete a project originally designed for more than 100 developers, the team has completely reworked the game’s scope and design.
The new shooter will reuse several assets from the cancelled project, including character designs, weapons, artwork and existing code.
According to Romero, these resources have provided a significant head start, allowing the studio to focus on building something achievable with its current workforce.
While the project remains a first-person shooter, Romero stressed that much of the surrounding experience has changed.
He also confirmed that development is progressing well and that the team is enthusiastic about its new direction.
John Romero Prefers Working With Smaller Development Teams
Despite the difficulties surrounding the original project’s cancellation, Romero believes the studio’s smaller structure offers several advantages.
The Doom and Quake co-creator explained that working with a compact team allows him to remain directly involved in development rather than spending much of his time managing departments and attending meetings.
Romero is now actively working within Unreal Editor, making design decisions and collaborating closely with the rest of the development team.
He also highlighted the flexibility of smaller studios, where developers can make significant changes to a project without navigating multiple layers of management.
Perhaps most importantly, Romero revealed that the studio’s new publisher has given the team complete creative freedom.
Unlike traditional publishing arrangements, where commercial expectations can influence a game’s direction, the new agreement reportedly allows Romero Games to develop the project without creative interference.
For Romero, that freedom represents an ideal arrangement.
When Will Romero Games Reveal Its New Shooter?
Although development is moving forward, Romero Games has not announced the title, release date or platforms for its upcoming first-person shooter.
The identity of its new publisher also remains undisclosed, with Romero declining to reveal when an official announcement might take place.
Nevertheless, the confirmation represents a significant turnaround for the studio following the loss of its original publishing agreement.
With funding secured, former employees returning and a more manageable development scope, Romero Games appears to have found a sustainable path forward.
For fans of classic first-person shooters, the prospect of another game from one of the genre’s most influential creators is certainly worth watching.
Are you excited to see what John Romero and his smaller team can create, or would you have preferred to see the original large-scale shooter completed? Let us know in the comments below, and join the 1-Up Games Discord community to discuss the latest gaming news, share your thoughts and connect with fellow players.
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