Wolfenstein and Doom remain in active development despite sweeping cuts at Bethesda parent company ZeniMax Media, according to industry insider Jason Schreier. The Bloomberg reporter clarified on BlueSky that ZeniMax "will not be reduced to only Fallout and The Elder Scrolls" following the layoffs, directly contradicting weeks of speculation.
Microsoft Cuts 3,200 Jobs, Shuts Down Studios
On July 6, 2026, Xbox announced it would eliminate 3,200 staff over the financial year, with 1,600 laid off immediately. Five studios are affected: Compulsion Games and Double Fine return to independent status; Ninja Theory and Undead Labs are sold; Arkane Lyon is reviewing "strategic options." However, ZeniMax Media—owner of Bethesda, Arkane, id Software, MachineGames, and ZeniMax Online Studios—also faces significant reductions.
According to Schreier, id Software (Doom) and ZeniMax Online Studios (The Elder Scrolls Online) saw a "significant number" of staff cuts but are "not shutting down." Before the announcements, reports suggested Xbox CEO Asha Sharma would prioritise Halo, The Elder Scrolls, and Fallout. Yet Schreier insists ZeniMax will continue working on Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake.
Wolfenstein 3 and TV Show in the Works
Wolfenstein 3 has long been rumoured but never officially announced. A WindowsCentral report claims Microsoft is investing in developer MachineGames after the success of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and the franchise's popularity. Additionally, a Wolfenstein TV series is in development at Amazon, mirroring the Fallout show's strategy—though with an accompanying game.
MachineGames has also been rumoured to be developing a new Quake title, but the studio previously lacked capacity for two triple-A projects. Microsoft's investment may enable that workload.
Doom and Quake Future Uncertain
Doom: The Dark Ages receives its first expansion, Revelations, on July 7, 2026. Further DLC remains unconfirmed. Quake's last mainline entry was Quake Champions in 2017; a new game has been rumoured for years, with MachineGames as the speculated developer.
Schreier's reassurances are tempered by the scale of cuts at id Software, leaving the series' long-term prospects unclear. Despite this, the commitment to Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake signals that Bethesda's portfolio extends beyond its two biggest franchises.
