Romero Games, the studio led by DOOM co-creator John Romero, has confirmed that funding for its next project has been pulled—reportedly by Microsoft—alongside several other unannounced titles at unrelated studios. The game, a AAA first-person shooter built in Unreal Engine 5, was believed to be in development under Microsoft’s publishing umbrella before being suddenly canceled.
In a recent social media statement, Romero Games didn’t directly name Microsoft or Xbox, but strongly hinted at their involvement. The studio referenced a broader wave of cancellations across multiple teams, adding to speculation that the decision came from higher up. “We had meetings with the publisher the day before this happened,” said one anonymous employee. “There was no mention of it.”
The team was reportedly blindsided, with the decision coming abruptly and without warning. Romero Games acknowledged that the situation was “above their visibility or control.” The future of the project remains uncertain—ownership of the IP is unclear, and development is on hold unless new funding is secured. “We’re trying to find other ways of funding the project,” the same employee added. “But for now, it’s completely closed, and the studio is closed.”
Microsoft has not commented on the Romero Games situation. However, recent news involves major setbacks across Xbox’s portfolio, including the cancellation of Rare’s Everwild, the shutdown of the Perfect Dark reboot, and the closure of The Initiative. Despite the uncertainty, some hope remains that Romero Games’ project could be revived in the future—especially with industry veterans like John and Brenda Romero involved.
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Source: IGN
Featured Image Credit: Romero Games
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