Romero Games, the studio headed by Doom legend John Romero and veteran game designer Brenda Romero, just took a heavy hit. Their upcoming FPS, which has been quietly in the works since 2022, suddenly lost its funding. But here’s the good news: the studio’s not backing down, and if you’re a fan of classic shooters like me, there’s still plenty to be excited about.
The Galway-based team had been developing the new game on Unreal Engine 5, and while the publisher remains unnamed due to NDAs, the timing has people talking, especially after Microsoft’s massive round of layoffs across its gaming division.
A few team members have moved on, many of them posting heartfelt farewells on social media, but let’s be clear: Romero Games isn’t closing. Far from it. According to a statement shared with GamesRadar, several publishers have already shown interest in picking up the project. That’s incredibly encouraging news for those of us who’ve been following the studio’s journey.
“We’re still here, and we’re doing everything we can to keep it that way,” the Romeros said, a sentiment that feels like vintage Romero: determined, passionate, and ready to fight for what they believe in.
As someone who grew up idolising the pioneers behind Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein 3D, it’s hard not to feel fired up by their tenacity. This team has already given us gems like Empire of Sin, a slick prohibition-era strategy game, and SIGIL, John Romero’s masterful spiritual sequel to the original Doom. They’ve shown they can honour the past while pushing forward, and that’s exactly what this new project looked set to do.
Let’s be honest, losing funding sucks. But if anyone can bounce back and deliver something truly iconic, it’s Romero Games. They’ve got the vision, the experience, and the legacy to make something special. And as a long-time fan, I’m not just hopeful, I’m genuinely excited to see what they do next.
The fight’s not over, and I’ve got a feeling we’re going to be hearing a lot more from this team very soon.
