**John Romero’s New Shooter Initiative Stopped by Funding Freeze**
John Romero, the iconic co-creator of Doom, was on the verge of transforming the shooter genre again with a new project crafted in Unreal Engine 5. Nevertheless, this ambitious undertaking has been suddenly interrupted due to an unforeseen funding freeze, leaving the entire development team at Romero Games out of work.
**Surprising Funding Reduction**
The startling news was shared by Brenda Romero, John Romero’s spouse and co-founder of Romero Games. In her public announcement, she indicated that the funding reduction was a strategic choice made at an elevated level within the publisher, leaving the studio defenseless. Despite the project’s achievements in reaching milestones and garnering acclaim for its quality, the funding was unexpectedly withdrawn.
Lead level designer Sebastian Bica voiced his frustration on LinkedIn, characterizing the situation as a “massive, abrupt and unforeseen setback” for an inventive and pleasurable project. He valued the moments spent with the team and mourned the inability to see the project through.
**Repercussions for Romero Games**
The ramifications for Romero Games are dire, with nearly 100 employees reportedly laid off. Numerous developers have confirmed their job losses on social media, connecting them to the cutbacks at Microsoft. The future of the Irish development studio is bleak, with the sudden disappearance of their primary project indicating a possible closure.
**Brenda Romero’s Call for Assistance**
Amidst this chaos, Brenda Romero issued an emotional call to the industry, seeking support for the impacted team. She characterized the day as “incredibly challenging” and stressed the long-standing bonds among the team members, some of whom have collaborated for more than twenty years.
As the industry copes with this unforeseen occurrence, the fate of Romero Games and its skilled team remains uncertain. The gaming community watches intently, hoping for a favorable outcome for the studio that brought titles like Empire of Sin to fruition.