Laid Off by Microsoft, DOOM Veterans Launch Their Own Studio

Following a wave of layoffs at id Software, around 20 developers decided to keep working together, but with one major difference: they're now running their own studio. Hidden Horses has already announced its first game, Danger Pay, and plans to turn to the gaming community for support to bring it to life.

Imagine spending years developing some of the world's most iconic shooters, losing your job, and deciding to start your own company instead of looking for another one. That's exactly what a group of id Software veterans, known for their work on the DOOM franchise, decided to do after Microsoft's layoffs in July 2026.

Around 20 former employees joined forces to establish Hidden Horses, an independent developer owned by its own workers. Together, the team brings more than 250 years of combined experience in the gaming industry. But their vision goes beyond an impressive résumé: the studio will operate democratically, giving developers a voice in major decisions and a share in its success, with the goal of providing greater creative freedom and job stability.

Their first project is Danger Pay, a single-player FPS set inside a deadly television show controlled by a dangerous artificial intelligence. Inspired by Smash TV and the film The Running Man, the game promises intense combat, powerful weapons, and plenty of action. To fund development, the team plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign, allowing the gaming community to help bring the project to life. No release date has been announced yet.

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In an industry marked by layoffs, studio closures, and major acquisitions, Hidden Horses offers an interesting alternative: turning a difficult situation into an opportunity to build something different. Whether this model can succeed remains to be seen, but the initiative is already raising an important question about who should have control over how games are made.

What about you, gamers? Do you think developer-owned studios could be an alternative for the future of the gaming industry?