id Software

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.

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

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

• First-person shooter games
• Video game development
• Game engine technology
• AAA gaming titles
• Console and PC gaming

Headquarters

HQ city

Richardson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. 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
2. Game Expansions and DLC: Revenue generated from campaign expansions such as DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part One and Part Two
3. Technology Licensing: id Tech engine licensing to other ZeniMax-owned studios for game development, including collaboration with MachineGames
4. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core 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

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Obsidian EntertainmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026id 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 StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026id 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/idsoftware
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/doom
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/id-software

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about id Software