Romero Games Refutes Closure Claims, Pursues New Publishing Opportunities After Project Cancellation

Following last week's widespread layoffs at Microsoft that affected more than 9,000 employees, including teams at Xbox Game Studios and indirectly affiliated developers, Romero Games—the studio founded by DOOM co-creator John Romero—was thrust into the spotlight after reports emerged that its current project had been cancelled and multiple team members had lost their jobs. This led to speculation that the studio itself had shut down.

However, Romero Games has now issued a public statement via its official Bluesky account, clarifying that the studio remains operational and is actively exploring ways to secure new funding.

While acknowledging the cancellation of its current project due to the withdrawal of funding—reportedly tied to the ripple effects of Microsoft’s internal cuts—the studio also confirmed that staff reductions did occur as a direct result of the funding loss. Yet, the leadership is already in talks with "several publishers" who may be interested in backing the shelved project.

This turn of events suggests that, while Romero Games is currently in a precarious situation, it is far from being defunct. The studio’s leadership remains optimistic that a new publishing partner will allow them to revive the cancelled title and continue their creative mission. Given John Romero's legacy in the gaming industry and the studio’s past work on titles like Empire of Sin, there is hope that publishers will step in to support the team during this transitional period.

The confusion about the studio’s closure likely stemmed from multiple developers associated with Romero Games announcing on social media that they had been laid off, sparking fears that the entire studio had shuttered. But today’s statement aims to dispel those rumors and reaffirm the studio’s determination to continue operating.

While it remains unclear what Romero Games’ next title is—or was—fans and industry observers now have reason to hope that it may still see the light of day, depending on how discussions with new potential partners unfold.

What do you think about the state of indie studios relying on major publishers? Should more studios seek alternative funding sources like crowdfunding or early access?