Doom creator John Romero’s canceled game is now a “much smaller game,” but it “will be new to people, the way that going through Elden Ring was a really new experience”

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John Romero, a key creator of the game Doom and co-founder of id Software, has announced that his previously canceled project is being revived. However, it won’t be exactly as originally planned – it’s now a new game that incorporates ideas from the initial concept.

Earlier this year, Microsoft’s large-scale layoffs led to the cancellation of several Xbox games, including Rare’s Everwild, the planned remake of Perfect Dark, and a new online game from Zenimax Online Studios. The cuts also affected projects from partner studios; Romero Games announced their new first-person shooter, a completely original game, had lost funding, reportedly due to a decision by Microsoft.

Romero had mentioned that even if this project fell through, the studio could still use its existing resources for something new, and it seems that’s exactly what happened.

At a video game show in Madrid (as reported by Eurogamer), Romero revealed that his studio overcame the cancellation of a major game. However, the new project isn’t a continuation of the old one. He explained that it has been almost entirely rebuilt and is essentially a different game, though it will still include many features and ideas from the original.

We’ve got about $50 million worth of existing game content that we can repurpose for a new, independent game. There’s a wealth of material we can use,” says Romero, who also notes the team is enthusiastic about the new direction. Although the new game is significantly smaller in scope, Romero emphasizes its unique qualities, stating he’s never encountered a game quite like it. He envisions it offering a fresh experience for players, similar to how Elden Ring felt groundbreaking for fans of Soulslike games.

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2025-12-10 17:09