id Software
id Software is a Richardson, Texas-based video game developer founded in 1991 and owned by Microsoft via ZeniMax Media, creating AAA first-person shooters including DOOM, Quake, Wolfenstein, and RAGE on its proprietary idTech engine. It serves global PC and console gaming markets through digital storefronts and a community-led go-to-market model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersRichardson, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What id Software does
id Software is an American video game development company founded in 1991 and headquartered in Richardson, Texas, with a secondary technology R&D studio in Frankfurt, Germany. The company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ZeniMax Media Inc., which was acquired by Microsoft Corporation in March 2021 for approximately $7.5 billion, placing id Software within the Xbox Game Studios portfolio. id Software develops and publishes AAA first-person shooter video games built on its proprietary idTech engine, with a portfolio centered on the DOOM franchise (DOOM 2016, DOOM Eternal, The Ancient Gods Part One and Part Two, DOOM VFR, and DOOM: The Dark Ages), complemented by the Quake, Wolfenstein, and RAGE franchises. The company employs 101-250 staff and has earned industry recognition including a 2006 Emmy Award for Technology and Engineering, The Game Awards Best Action Game for DOOM (2016), and The Game Awards Innovation in Accessibility for DOOM: The Dark Ages in 2025.
The company's revenue model is built primarily on one-time perpetual license sales of full game titles and DLC expansions distributed digitally across Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch storefronts, with an additional direct e-commerce channel via doom.com. A secondary technology licensing stream arises from internal idTech engine licensing to other ZeniMax-owned studios. The go-to-market approach is community-led, anchored by the free Slayers Club fan community and the annual QuakeCon convention in Dallas, which hosts the largest LAN party in North America with over 3,000 computers. The customer base is horizontal, serving PC and console gamers globally, with a dedicated FPS enthusiast and hardcore gaming sub-segment as the primary buyer persona, supplemented by internal Microsoft/Xbox Game Studios collaboration as a secondary stakeholder.
Recent strategic positioning has shifted significantly: in June 2026, ZeniMax layoffs commenced under Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's 'Next 100 Days: Xbox Reset' memo, with Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Halo designated as protected franchises and id Software's franchises (DOOM, Quake) placed in structural jeopardy, accompanied by the disappearance of id Software job listings from the ZeniMax careers portal. The company continues to actively recruit for an unannounced project and is co-developing with Obsidian Entertainment on Creation Engine 3-based titles, signaling continued operational relevance within the Xbox Game Studios portfolio.
id Software firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- id Software
- Legal name
- id Software
- Website
- https://idsoftware.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- id Software is a Richardson, Texas-based video game developer founded in 1991 and owned by Microsoft via ZeniMax Media, creating AAA first-person shooters including DOOM, Quake, Wolfenstein, and RAGE on its proprietary idTech engine. It serves global PC and console gaming markets through digital storefronts and a community-led go-to-market model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
id Software industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Games
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210), Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Game Engines (General-Purpose & Real-Time 3D) (MPAFAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Game Engine & Creation Platforms (UGC/Modding) (BPAMAKAE), XR/AR/VR/MR Development Frameworks & Toolchains (MPAFAFAF)
Keywords
Where id Software is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richardson
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
id Software business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Game Sales (Full Titles): id Software generates primary revenue through one-time purchase sales of full game titles like DOOM (2016), DOOM Eternal, and DOOM: The Dark Ages across PC and console platforms
- Game Expansions and DLC: Revenue generated from campaign expansions such as DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part One and Part Two
- Technology Licensing: id Tech engine licensing to other ZeniMax-owned studios for game development, including collaboration with MachineGames
- Fan Club Membership: Slayers Club provides exclusive in-game content ( Slayer and demon skins for DOOM Eternal) to members, building community engagement and retention
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard game pricing varies by platform |
| Freemium | Monthly | Slayers Club membership |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
id Software product offering
Product offeringCore offering
id Software develops and sells premium first-person shooter video games built on its proprietary idTech engine, including the DOOM franchise (DOOM 2016, DOOM Eternal, DOOM: The Dark Ages), Quake, and RAGE. Titles are distributed as one-time purchases across PC (Steam), PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and the official DOOM online store. The company also licenses idTech internally to other ZeniMax-owned studios and operates the free Slayers Club fan community.
Product overview
id Software is a game development studio that creates first-person shooter games, primarily known for the DOOM franchise and related titles. The portfolio includes the core DOOM games (DOOM 2016, DOOM Eternal), its campaign expansions (The Ancient Gods Part One and Part Two), VR spin-off DOOM VFR, and prequel title DOOM: The Dark Ages. Additional franchises include Quake and RAGE. The games use the proprietary idTech engine and are available across multiple platforms including PC, consoles, and VR devices.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Slayers Club: The official DOOM fan club, a celebration of the passion, creativity and love fans have poured into DOOM for nearly three decades. Membership is free and grants access to unique Slayer and demon skins in DOOM Eternal, exclusive content, and more.
- QuakeCon
Products and services
- DOOM (2016) A brutally fun and challenging modern first-person shooter with relentless demons, impossibly destructive guns, fast fluid movement, an epic single-player campaign, and multiplayer modes. Targeted at PC and console gamers seeking intense FPS experiences.
- DOOM Eternal Direct sequel to DOOM (2016) delivering the ultimate combination of speed and power through push-forward, first-person combat, with an all-new soundtrack by Mick Gordon. Targeted at FPS enthusiasts and PC/console gamers.
- DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part One First campaign expansion for DOOM Eternal where the player battles to return to Urdak after the slaying of the Khan Maykr created an imbalance threatening all of creation. Sold as a paid DLC expansion for DOOM Eternal owners.
- DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part Two The epic conclusion to the DOOM Slayer's Saga and the second campaign expansion to DOOM Eternal, in which players rally the Sentinel armies to lay siege to Hell and face the Dark Lord. Sold as a paid DLC expansion for DOOM Eternal owners.
- DOOM VFR Virtual reality adaptation bringing the fast-paced, brutal gameplay of DOOM to VR, set in the UAC facility on Mars and the depths of Hell. Targeted at VR-capable PC and PlayStation gamers.
- DOOM: The Dark Ages A prequel in the DOOM series featuring intense combat, creative weapons including the Shield Saw, and a blend of sci-fi and dark fantasy elements. Available on PC (Steam, Steam Deck verified) and consoles.
- Quake A 1996 first-person shooter featuring full real-time 3D rendering, early 3D acceleration support through OpenGL, and multiplayer options including Team Fortress and Capture the Flag mods. Targeted at PC gamers and FPS enthusiasts.
- RAGE A groundbreaking first-person shooter set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland after an asteroid impact, featuring intense action, vehicle combat, and an expansive world powered by idTech 5. Targeted at PC and console gamers.
Quantifiable outcome
- DOOM: The Dark Ages won Innovation in Accessibility at The Game Awards 2025
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use id Software
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
id Software technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
id Software partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Obsidian Entertainmentflagshipid Software is collaborating with Obsidian Entertainment as part of Xbox Game Studios to develop The Elder Scrolls VI using the Creation Engine 3. This represents a co-development partnership between ZeniMax-owned studios for a major upcoming AAA title.
- Xbox Game Studioscoreid Software operates as part of Xbox Game Studios following Microsoft's $7.5 billion ZeniMax acquisition. Collaboration with other Xbox Game Studios including Obsidian Entertainment for shared development resources and technology.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
id Software competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bungie: FPS studio behind Halo and Destiny serving the same hardcore shooter audience, with deep franchise IP comparable to DOOM and Quake.
- Halo Studios: Xbox first-party FPS studio (formerly 343 Industries) developing Halo; a fellow Microsoft-owned shooter developer and a 'protected franchise' counterpart to id.
- Infinity Ward: AAA FPS developer behind Call of Duty, directly competing for the same first-person shooter player base across PC and console.
- Crytek: FPS developer and creator of CryEngine; closely comparable as a studio combining first-person shooter games with a proprietary, graphically advanced engine.
- MachineGames: ZeniMax sister studio that develops the Wolfenstein series using licensed idTech, making it a direct peer in FPS development and an idTech licensee.
- Respawn Entertainment: AAA first-person shooter studio (Titanfall, Apex Legends) targeting the same PC/console FPS audience as id's DOOM franchise.
- Bethesda Game Studios: Sister ZeniMax/Xbox studio developing AAA games; directly comparable as a first-party Microsoft-owned developer working alongside id, including on shared engine technology.
Broad incumbents
- Epic Games: Develops Unreal Engine and FPS titles; Unreal directly competes with idTech as a real-time 3D engine, and Epic presented alongside id at SIGGRAPH 2025.
- Unity Technologies: Provides a widely licensed real-time 3D game engine; competes conceptually with id's idTech in the engine/middleware category.
- Valve: Creator of landmark FPS titles (Half-Life), the Source engine, and the Steam distribution platform id relies on; overlaps in FPS development, engine tech, and PC distribution.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
id Software social profiles
Digital presenceid Software financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
id Software leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
id Software funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
id Software M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about id Software
What does id Software do?
id Software develops and sells premium first-person shooter video games built on its proprietary idTech engine, including the DOOM franchise (DOOM 2016, DOOM Eternal, DOOM: The Dark Ages), Quake, and RAGE. Titles are distributed as one-time purchases across PC (Steam), PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and the official DOOM online store. The company also licenses idTech internally to other ZeniMax-owned studios and operates the free Slayers Club fan community.
Is id Software a public or private company?
id Software is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was id Software founded?
id Software was founded in 1991. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is id Software based?
id Software is headquartered in Richardson, United States, in the North America region.
How does id Software make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Game Sales (Full Titles) is the primary driver. The others are game Expansions and DLC, technology Licensing and fan Club Membership.
Who are id Software's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bungie, Halo Studios, Infinity Ward, Crytek, MachineGames, Respawn Entertainment and Bethesda Game Studios. Broad incumbents are Epic Games, Unity Technologies and Valve.
Does id Software have an API?
No public API is recorded for id Software.
What industry is id Software in?
id Software's product category is Video Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAFAA, Game Engines (General-Purpose & Real-Time 3D), with a secondary code of BPAMAKAE, Game Engine & Creation Platforms (UGC/Modding). Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 7372.