John Romero, the co-founder of id Software and creator of seminal titles like Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake, has confirmed that his latest project is moving forward despite a significant setback in 2025. During an opening keynote at Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show 2026, Romero addressed the recent history of his studio, Romero Games, which saw its funding pulled by Microsoft amid broader cuts to the Xbox business. This decision forced a drastic reduction in staff, shrinking the team from 110 members down to just five.
Despite describing the 2025 event as a brutal blindsiding that "really sucked," Romero expressed no bitterness and stated he is currently doing better than he has in decades. He confirmed that the studio has secured a new publishing partner for their latest title, though he declined to reveal the publisher's name or any release dates. The project remains a shooter built on Unreal Engine 5.8, with Romero noting that many elements from the previously cancelled game are being carried over into this new iteration.
In terms of gameplay design, Romero emphasized a shift toward high levels of player freedom and exploration, drawing direct comparisons to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. While he stopped short of explicitly labeling the title an open-world game, he described a vision where players are not told how to play but are instead encouraged to wander and discover. He explained that the experience should allow players to get sidetracked by interesting locations or events while heading toward a specific objective, much like forgetting one's destination to explore a tower in Breath of the Wild.
Romero highlighted that this approach aims to create an adventure where fun distractions are integral to the gun-based destruction. He referenced his own experiences with games like Blue Prince and Elden Ring as examples of the new feelings he wants players to experience. Although concrete details remain scarce, the industry legend's focus on a freeform first-person shooter suggests a departure from traditional objective-based structures in favor of organic discovery.
Sources: IGN.