id Software Confirms New Game, With Hugo Martin Directing Again
An id Software new game is officially in development, the Doom studio confirmed during Xbox’s 25th anniversary FanFest in Seattle. Hugo Martin returns as game director, with the studio’s teams in Texas and Frankfurt building the project. The announcement came as the studio wraps up Doom: The Dark Ages, with Slaughter Mode set to arrive on Monday, November 16.
Xbox chief executive Asha Sharma shared the news on X. The studio followed with its own post, saying it would be some time before it could share more. No title, franchise or release date has been announced.
What id Software said
The studio’s message was short and direct. “We’re incredibly excited about our next project, a new game from our teams in Texas and Frankfurt, with game direction once again by Hugo Martin. It’ll be some time before we’re ready to share more, but we can’t wait for you to see what we’re working on.”
Martin was creative director on the 2016 Doom reboot and directed Doom Eternal and Doom: The Dark Ages. The Frankfurt team is notable too: id Software has long been based in Texas, and the German studio adds a second base.
id Software new game: Doom, Quake or something new?
The one question id Software did not answer is what the game actually is. Another Doom, a return to Quake or a wholly new series are all possible, and the studio has said nothing. Reports point one way, but they are not confirmation. The Verge’s Tom Warren has reported, citing sources, that the project is based on the Doom series. That fits: Doom is id Software’s strongest franchise, and Bethesda head Jill Braff previously told staff the company would focus development planning on its strongest franchises.
Quake remains the other obvious candidate: the series has been quiet for years, and a return would land well with older players. A new series is least likely, given the weight of the Doom name, but nothing is ruled out.
The timing matters too. id Software went through heavy layoffs in Microsoft’s recent cuts, and reports questioned whether it still has the staff to deliver at its old scale. Its executives have said they are confident and have enough people, and the announcement itself backs that up.
Slaughter Mode arrives on Monday
Before the new game, one more update lands for Doom: The Dark Ages. Slaughter Mode arrives on November 16 as an endless single-player challenge, with rounds that grow harder and enemies, bosses and arenas that change at random. Players earn Skulls by clearing rounds and spend them on skins and icons. At checkpoints, they can bank Skulls or risk them for a higher multiplier.
It costs nothing extra for owners of the Revelations expansion, the Premium Edition or the Premium Upgrade, and it closes out the game’s post-launch content.
A big night for Xbox
The id Software news was one of several Bethesda announcements at the FanFest. Wolfenstein 3 is officially in production at MachineGames. The event also brought news on Halo: Campaign Evolved and new Fable gameplay.
For players in Pakistan, the wait will be long. Big releases such as GTA 6, confirmed at 30 frames per second on PS5 Pro, draw huge attention here, and GTA VI downloads have already begun ahead of its November 19 launch. Mobile play is growing too: PUBG Mobile Flash has launched for low-end phones. Games also cross into film: Angry Birds 3 rebuilt its lead character Red from scratch. A new Doom would arrive into that same market, where high-end consoles are costly, so its success here will depend on how it runs on modest machines.
Frequently asked questions
What has id Software confirmed about its next game?
A new game is in development, built by its teams in Texas and Frankfurt, with Hugo Martin as game director. No title, franchise or release date has been announced.
Is the new game a Doom title?
Not officially. Reports citing The Verge describe it as a new Doom game, but id Software and Xbox have not confirmed that. It could also be Quake or a new series.
Who is Hugo Martin?
He was creative director on the 2016 Doom reboot and directed Doom Eternal and Doom: The Dark Ages. He returns as game director.
When does Slaughter Mode arrive for Doom: The Dark Ages?
On Monday, November 16, as a free update for owners of the Revelations expansion, the Premium Edition or the Premium Upgrade.
What is Slaughter Mode?
It is an endless single-player mode with increasingly difficult rounds and randomised enemies, bosses and arenas. Players earn Skulls to unlock skins and icons, and can bank them or risk them.
