id Software

id Software is a developer and publisher.

id Software Webpage, Facebook

Established in 1991, this American studio is widely recognized as one of the most influential ones in the history of electronic entertainment. The company is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with a European branch located in Frankfurt, Germany. After the departure of id Software's key figures - John Romero, John Carmack, and Adrian Carmack - Tim Willits, a veteran of the company since 1995, became CEO but was replaced by Marty Stratton later in 2019. Since June 2009, id Software has been owned by the American company ZeniMax Media, which also owns companies such as Arkane Studios and Bethesda Softworks. In September 2020, the studio became part of Xbox Game Studios.

Apart from id Software's first project, the arcade series Commander Keen, the studio has focused almost entirely on dynamic first-person shooters, often distinguished by their intense action and brutal gameplay. However, that's not all - nearly every new IP created by id Software (Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, Quake, and Rage, respectively) revolutionized 3D computer graphics and set new standards within its genre. Additionally, the studio's proprietary id Tech engines became some of the most widely used graphics technologies, including by third-party developers. In addition to its high-budget PC and console productions, id Software also developed several mobile games - either ports of its existing titles or spin-offs of its flagship series - including Wolfenstein RPG, Doom II RPG, and Doom Resurrection.

The history of id Software

Beginning of business

id Software was founded by four young developers - John Carmack, John Romero, Tom Hall, and Adrian Carmack (no relation to John) - who met while working at Softdisk Publishing, a company best known for Dangerous Dave, a game created by John Romero himself. They worked on their first projects, like a failed PC port of Super Mario Bros. 3, using computers they borrowed from their job on the weekends. The reason they decided to go independent was an offer from Apogee Software (which later became 3D Realms), to release shareware versions of their games. And that's how the team got started on their very first game, Commander Keen, which was released in episodes. During this time, the studio's name, a reference to the "id" - one of Freud's three levels of personality - also became established.

Milestones: Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake

The breakthrough for id Software came with the 1992 release of Wolfenstein 3D, widely regarded as the first 3D first-person shooter in history. The game spawned a prequel, Spear of Destiny (1992), as well as three sequels - Return to Castle Wolfenstein (2001), Wolfenstein (2009), and Wolfenstein: The New Order (2014) - all of which involved collaboration with id Software. A year and a half after the release of Wolfenstein 3D, the studio launched another major hit: Doom, which became one of the most iconic games in the history of electronic entertainment and set new standards in 3D graphics. This game also spawned several sequels: Doom II: Hell on Earth (1994), Doom 3 (2004) along with its 2012 remastered BFG Edition, and Doom (2016). This time, however, all of the sequels were developed entirely by id Software. Unfortunately, during the development of the first Doom, the studio experienced its first major personnel change when co-founder Tom Hall left.

After the enormous success of Wolfenstein 3D and the Doom series, id Software's developers didn't rest on their laurels but were already preparing another groundbreaking title for gamers. The result was Quake, released in 1996. In addition to revolutionizing graphics, it introduced players to one of the first true online multiplayer experiences. Over the next two decades, the series saw additional full-fledged releases: Quake II (1997), Quake 4 (2005, developed in collaboration with Raven Software), as well as multiplayer-focused titles Quake III: Arena (1999) and Quake Champions (2017). After the first shareware release of Quake, John Romero left id Software and co-founded Ion Storm with Tom Hall.

Rage and finding your own path

The studio didn't release another new IP until 2010, when the post-apocalyptic shooter Rage hit the market. Even with technological advancements and positive reviews, the game could not replicate the success of its predecessors. In 2005, id Software saw the departure of another key member, Adrian Carmack, who decided to dedicate himself fully to his passion for art. On June 24th, 2009, id Software revealed that it was being acquired by Zenimax Media, the company behind Bethesda Softworks and several other properties. In June 2013, after 17 years of collaboration, Tod Hollenshead, who had led the studio since its acquisition, departed from the team. A few months later, John Carmack, the final remaining co-founder of id Software, departed for a major role at Oculus VR. Following this, Tim Willits, a member of id Software since 1995, became the studio's head.

After releasing RAGE, the studio appeared to be searching for its own path. In 2012, Doom 3: BFG Edition was released - a remastered version of the third installment in the Doom series - celebrating the original game's tenth anniversary. The title debuted on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, and less than two years later, it was also released on mobile devices. In 2013, Commander Keen in Keen Dreams was released on smartphones and tablets, and later became available on the Nintendo Switch.

A new incarnation of Doom

At the same time, the team focused on developing the fourth full installment of the Doom series. As it later emerged, the project was already at an advanced stage when the developers realized it lacked the spirit of the original. As a result, production was restarted, benefiting both the developers and the players. Released in 2016 on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, Doom came to Nintendo's console more than a year later, earning both artistic and commercial acclaim and revitalizing the franchise. The developers followed up with Doom VFR, a 2017 spin-off designed for virtual reality headsets.

In 2019, studio head Tim Willits departed from id Software and was replaced by Marty Stratton. 2019 also marked the release of RAGE 2, a joint project between id Software and Avalanche Studios. Released on PC as well as Sony and Microsoft consoles, the game received a lukewarm reception. The developers then chose to remind gamers of their earlier work by releasing remastered versions of Doom, Doom II: Hell on Earth, Doom 3, and Doom 64. Their releases came before the debut of Doom Eternal, announced in June 2018, continuing the path set by 2016's Doom. Released in March 2020, the game achieved both commercial and artistic success. It's no surprise that the developers expanded the game with The Ancient Gods and prepared a remastered edition for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

Under Microsoft's control

Microsoft announced on September 21st, 2020, that it had purchased ZeniMax Media, the parent company of id Software, for $7.5 billion. As a result, id Software became part of the fast-growing Xbox Game Studios.

After joining the Redmond giant, id Software delivered the second expansion for Doom: Eternal, titled The Ancient Gods, Part Two (2021). Over the next few years, the team worked on remastered editions of Quake, Quake II, Doom, and Doom II. However, the team was also preparing its next major project:

Doom: The Dark Ages, a prequel to the entire series, announced in June 2024. The title, which transports players to a distinctive version of the Middle Ages, was scheduled for release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Technology

While the studio's influence on gaming is clear, id Software has consistently driven innovation through the development of cutting-edge 3D graphics technologies. Over time, id Software created several versions of its proprietary id Tech graphics engine, now one of the most popular and frequently used tools for game development:

1. id Tech 1 (Doom, Doom II: Hell on Earth),
2. id Tech 2 (Quake, Quake II),
3. id Tech 3 (Quake III: Arena, Return to Castle Wolfenstein),
4. id Tech 4 (Doom 3, Quake 4, Wolfenstein),
5. id Tech 5 (Rage),
6. id Tech 6 (Doom, Doom VFR, Doom Eternal, Doom: The Dark Ages).

Among the key games made by other developers with the id Tech engine are:

1. id Tech 1 (Heretic, Hexen: Beyond Heretic),
2. id Tech 2 (Daikatana, Half-Life, Heretic II, Hexen II, SiN, Soldier of Fortune),
3. id Tech 3 (Call of Duty, Soldier of Fortune 2: Double Helix, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast),
4. id Tech 4 (Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, Prey),
5. id Tech 5 (Dishonored 2, The Evil Within, Wolfenstein: The New Order),
6. id Tech 6 (Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, Wolfenstein: Youngblood, Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot).