2 min read
Legendary developer id Software is officially celebrating its 35th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the studio released a special video on X 1st of February. In the clip, Studio Director Marty Stratton and Game Director Hugo Martin thank the fans and tease exciting DOOM content coming soon.
Stratton and Martin expressed gratitude to “the best fans in the world” for decades of support. Furthermore, they thanked their partners at Microsoft Gaming and ZeniMax. The duo also paid tribute to the developers who came before them. They specifically referenced the studio’s original founders, Adrian Carmack, John Carmack, Tom Hall, and John Romero.
a message from Marty & Hugo pic.twitter.com/pNA5S0nrgv
— id Software (@idSoftware) February 1, 2026
A Historic Legacy
Founded in 1991 by four members of the Louisiana company Softdisk, id Software revolutionised the industry. The studio redefined the first-person shooter (FPS) genre on PC multiple times. Wolfenstein laid the groundwork, DOOM popularised the genre, and Quake became their first proper 3D FPS in 1996.
Following Quake’s release, the founders went their separate ways. However, id Software continued dominating the FPS space through the 2000s. ZeniMax Media acquired the studio in 2009, bringing them under the Bethesda Softworks umbrella. Later, Microsoft Gaming acquired ZeniMax in 2021. Throughout these changes, the studio has remained a powerhouse, recently launching DOOM: The Dark Ages in 2025.
What to Expect in 2026: New DOOM & Quake Content
The celebration isn’t stopping at a video. Stratton revealed the team has “a lot coming up this week to celebrate”. Moreover, the studio plans to spend 2026 celebrating “this anniversary and a lot of other anniversaries”. Martin echoed this sentiment, telling fans to “stay tuned” because they have “much more in store”.
Since DOOM: The Dark Ages launched just last year, a new major DOOM title is likely years away. Therefore, 2026’s festivities may focus on DLC, discounts, or behind-the-scenes history.
However, Stratton’s comment about “other anniversaries” sparks intrigue. Notably, 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the Quake franchise. If a new mainline Quake isn’t ready, the studio might prepare content for existing remasters or potentially a full remake to honour the landmark shooter.
