John Romero’s New Shooter Hits a Wall After Microsoft Pulls Funding

I was gutted to hear that John Romero, the legendary mind behind ‘Doom,’ has hit a major setback with his latest project. His studio, Romero Games, was working on a fresh first-person shooter built in Unreal Engine 5. It sounded like an exciting return to his roots, but the project has now lost its funding. This news comes hot on the heels of Microsoft’s recent wave of cuts, which have shaken up the gaming world.

Romero Games, based in Galway, Ireland, had a team of over 75 developers in 2024, all pouring their hearts into this unannounced shooter. Details about the game were scarce, but the promise of Romero’s signature fast-paced action had me hyped. Unfortunately, the studio confirmed that their publisher—widely believed to be Microsoft—yanked the financial plug. This wasn’t a decision Romero’s team had any control over, and it’s left them scrambling to figure out what’s next.

The timing couldn’t be worse. Microsoft’s cuts have already claimed other high-profile projects, like ‘Perfect Dark’ and ‘Everwild,’ and led to thousands of layoffs across Xbox studios. Romero Games isn’t alone in feeling the sting, but it’s a tough blow for a studio led by such an iconic figure. John Romero himself shared his disappointment, praising his team as some of the best he’s ever worked with. It’s clear this cancellation hurts on a personal level.

Looking back, Romero Games has a solid track record. They released ‘Empire of Sin,’ a mafia strategy game, in 2020, and followed up with ‘Sigil’ and ‘Sigil 2,’ which were love letters to ‘Doom’ fans. The new shooter was supposed to mark a bold step forward, especially after the studio expanded in 2022 to tackle the project. I was really looking forward to seeing what they’d cook up with modern tech like Unreal Engine 5.

For now, the studio is focused on supporting its team and exploring new options. They’re reaching out for any leads or opportunities to keep the crew together. It’s a rough time for the industry, with layoffs and cancellations piling up. I’m holding out hope that Romero and his team can bounce back and bring their vision to life, whether it’s this shooter or something new. The gaming world needs more of that classic Romero magic.