After being laid off by Microsoft, former Doom devs found new Smash TV-influenced FPS studio that isn't "subject to investor demands"

In July, id Software, known for the Doom franchise, laid off approximately 100 employees as part of broader workforce reductions at Microsoft. Several of these former developers have now established Hidden Horses, a new studio structured as an employee-owned company. The studio’s first project, Danger Pay, is a single-player first-person shooter drawing inspiration from the 1990s arcade game Smash TV and dystopian films like The Running Man. The game aims to revive classic shooter mechanics, reflecting the preferences of its founders.

Hidden Horses includes 20 former id Software staff members, such as lead VFX artist Todd Boyce, principal engine programmer Dustin Land, and senior AI engineer Daniel Young. The studio operates with a flat hierarchy, where leadership roles are democratically elected as needed. This structure ensures all employees have a meaningful say in company decisions, avoiding top-down control that the founders associate with past negative experiences.

The studio’s financial model prioritizes job preservation and creative freedom over investor-driven growth. According to producer Andrew Willis, Hidden Horses is not subject to investor demands, allowing the team to focus on making games they believe players want. The founders explicitly reject trend-chasing and focus group-driven development, aiming instead for classic gameplay experiences aligned with their personal preferences.

Willis emphasized that the flat structure is designed to motivate employees by giving them a stake in the company’s direction. While the studio has no immediate plans for rapid expansion, it has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund Danger Pay. Additional promotional efforts, including a studio documentary and a branded beer, are underway to engage potential backers. Further details about the game, including screenshots and release plans, are yet to be announced.