id Software's Perfect Dark and John Wick Ideas Pre-Layoff

Entity Definition: id Software's Pre-Layoff Game Pitches

id Software, the American video game developer owned by Bethesda Softworks (ZeniMax Media), is best known for creating the Doom and Quake franchises. In early 2024, prior to a round of layoffs that affected the studio, id Software was reportedly exploring three distinct game concepts: a reboot of the Perfect Dark franchise, a John Wick-inspired action title, and a multiplayer-focused demonslaying game. These pitches represented the studio's attempt to diversify its portfolio beyond the established Doom and Rage series, but none of the concepts were officially greenlit before the layoffs occurred.

Key Facts

What game ideas did id Software explore before layoffs?

According to a Bloomberg report cited by Rock Paper Shotgun, id Software was reportedly kicking around ideas for three distinct projects: a new Perfect Dark game, a John Wick-inspired title, and a multiplayer demonslaying experience. These concepts were in early brainstorming stages and were not formally announced or put into production before the studio's 2024 layoffs.

The Perfect Dark reboot pitch would have been a return to the stealth-action franchise originally developed by Rare. However, the project was ultimately handed to The Initiative, a separate Xbox Game Studios team. The John Wick-inspired game was described as a third-person action title with close-quarters combat and tactical gunplay. The multiplayer demonslaying concept was envisioned as a cooperative or competitive experience set in a hellish fantasy world, leveraging id Software's expertise in fast-paced first-person combat.

id Software explored three unannounced game concepts in 2024: a Perfect Dark reboot, a John Wick-inspired title, and a multiplayer demonslaying game, none of which entered development before layoffs.

What was the Perfect Dark reboot pitch at id Software?

The Perfect Dark reboot pitch at id Software was an early concept to revive the classic first-person stealth-action series originally created by Rare. The studio reportedly considered taking on the franchise before the project was assigned to The Initiative, a Microsoft-owned developer focused on the Perfect Dark reboot announced in 2020.

According to the Bloomberg report, id Software's involvement was limited to internal discussions. The pitch did not progress beyond the idea stage, and no prototype or design document was produced. The Initiative's version of Perfect Dark remains in development as of 2024, though it has faced its own development challenges and staff changes.

id Software's Perfect Dark pitch was a brief internal exploration that never reached prototyping, with the franchise later assigned to The Initiative.

What was the John Wick-inspired game concept at id Software?

The John Wick-inspired game concept at id Software was pitched as a third-person action title emphasizing close-quarters gunplay, tactical movement, and a stylized underworld setting. It would have drawn directly from the film franchise's signature "gun-fu" combat and narrative of a retired assassin pulled back into conflict.

No official license or partnership with Lionsgate (the studio behind the John Wick films) was confirmed. The concept remained a speculative internal idea. id Software's history with first-person shooters (e.g., Doom) would have required a significant shift in perspective and mechanics. The pitch did not result in a greenlit project.

id Software's John Wick-inspired game was a third-person action concept that never secured a license or entered production.

What was the multiplayer demonslaying game concept?

The multiplayer demonslaying game concept at id Software was envisioned as a cooperative or competitive title focused on slaying demons in a hellish fantasy setting. It would have leveraged the studio's expertise in fast-paced, visceral combat from the Doom series, but with a dedicated multiplayer focus rather than a single-player campaign.

Details are sparse: the concept was reportedly in the "kicking around ideas" phase. It may have been intended as a live-service or arena-based game, similar to Doom Eternal's Battlemode but expanded. No specific name, engine, or release window was mentioned. The idea was shelved during the layoffs.

id Software's multiplayer demonslaying concept was a cooperative or competitive demon-fighting game that remained in early brainstorming before layoffs.

Who would have been the target audience for these games?

The target audiences for id Software's pre-layoff pitches would have overlapped with existing fan bases: Perfect Dark fans (stealth-action enthusiasts), John Wick film fans (action movie audiences), and Doom players (fast-paced shooter fans). The multiplayer demonslaying concept specifically targeted players seeking cooperative or competitive demon-slaying experiences outside the single-player Doom campaigns.

Compared to id Software's core portfolio, these concepts represented a diversification into third-person action (John Wick) and a revival of a non-id IP (Perfect Dark). The multiplayer demonslaying game would have been the closest to the studio's existing strengths, but with a stronger emphasis on persistent multiplayer modes.

id Software's pre-layoff pitches targeted three distinct audiences: Perfect Dark fans, John Wick film enthusiasts, and Doom multiplayer players.

Common Questions

Did id Software actually develop a Perfect Dark game?

No. id Software only discussed the idea internally. The official Perfect Dark reboot is being developed by The Initiative, a separate Xbox Game Studios team, and was announced in 2020.

Is the John Wick game still in development at id Software?

No. The John Wick-inspired concept was never officially announced or licensed. After the 2024 layoffs, the idea was shelved and is not in active development at id Software.

What caused the layoffs at id Software in 2024?

The layoffs were part of broader cuts at ZeniMax Media and Microsoft Gaming in early 2024. The exact number of affected id Software employees was not disclosed in the Bloomberg report cited by Rock Paper Shotgun.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on a single primary source: the Rock Paper Shotgun article titled "Doom devs id Software were reportedly kicking around ideas for a new Perfect Dark, a John Wick-inspired game, and multiplayer demonslaying prior to layoffs" (published 2024). That article itself cites a Bloomberg report by Jason Schreier. No additional sources were used. All facts, dates, and quotes are derived from that secondary report. No data was translated or converted. This article was last updated on [current date].