The recent wave of Xbox layoffs didn’t just affect employees…
It also killed projects that players never even knew existed.
According to new reports, id Software, the legendary studio behind DOOM, had already started early work on several new concepts before Microsoft’s restructuring—including an action game inspired by John Wick.
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The project was never officially announced.
Internal reports claim the studio was exploring three different ideas after DOOM, including:
• a new Perfect Dark concept; • another DOOM project; • and a fast-paced action game heavily inspired by the John Wick franchise.
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Very little is known about the cancelled title.
However, considering id Software’s reputation for fluid movement, fast combat and satisfying gunplay, many fans believe the studio could have delivered a unique take on the « gun-fu » style made famous by the John Wick films.
Unfortunately, the project never moved beyond its early stages.
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The cancellation comes as part of Microsoft’s broader restructuring of its gaming division.
The company recently announced more than 3,200 job cuts, while several Xbox studios were affected by closures, sales or internal reorganizations, leading to the cancellation of multiple unannounced games.
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Ironically…
A real AAA John Wick game is already in development—but at Saber Interactive, not Xbox.
The project was officially revealed earlier this year and promises to bring Keanu Reeves’ iconic assassin to consoles in a brand-new action experience.
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We’ll probably never know what id Software’s version looked like.
But considering the studio’s track record with DOOM, it’s easy to imagine why the idea has already captured gamers’ attention.
Sometimes, the most exciting games are the ones that never get made… and this cancelled John Wick-inspired project may become one of gaming’s biggest « what ifs. »
