John Romero, famous for helping create DOOM, and Brenda Romero, known for her work on Wizardry, have both shared their thoughts on how the video game industry is doing today.
In a recent GamesIndustry.biz interview, the founders of Romero Games – who established their studio around 10 years ago – discussed the challenges the video game industry is currently experiencing. They shared how these difficulties have impacted their own studio, specifically their efforts to obtain funding and maintain operations.
“I feel like the industry’s in a really horrible place,” Brenda says.
She draws a parallel between today’s challenges and the video game crash of 1983 in the US. Back then, a flood of poorly made games overwhelmed stores, causing retailers to lose faith in home gaming consoles.
As someone who remembers the downturn in the 80s, I can honestly say this feels even worse. It seems like almost everyone I know – or someone close to them – is already dealing with hardship or is really worried about what’s to come. It’s a truly tough situation for a lot of people right now.
As a long-time gaming fan, it’s been really tough to watch so many game developers and publishers struggle lately. We’ve seen a lot of studios forced to lay people off, and sadly, some have even closed down completely. It’s a worrying trend, and I’m hoping things improve for the industry.
John Romero points out that it isn’t even due to failed games, using Battlefield 6 as an example.
He admitted the game was a big success for EA, even being one of the top-selling games last year. However, he was confused and frustrated by the company’s decision to lay off employees within the Battlefield Studios team, saying he didn’t understand the reasoning behind it.
Last year, there were incorrect reports that Romero Games had closed. The company actually lost funding for its game when Microsoft, its publisher, decided to withdraw support.
The studio is still operating, but it had to significantly reduce its workforce, from more than a hundred employees down to only nine.
Brenda feels confident they’ll manage for the near future. Even if things get difficult, like they did in 2027, she believes they’ve both already had successful careers.
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2026-03-31 04:36