Former id Software Developers Form Hidden Horses
The employee-owned studio, co-founded by about 20 ex-id staff, plans its first game, Danger Pay.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in eSports
Live Poll
Would you trust a game studio run by its own developers more than a big publisher?
Approximately 20 former id Software developers have formed Hidden Horses, a democratically governed, employee-owned game studio. The formation follows Microsoft's reported layoff of 136 id Software developers in July 2026.
Why it matters
The studio was created to keep the former id Software team together after the layoffs, with developers sharing directly in the company's success. Its co-founders bring over 250 collective years of game development experience to the venture.
The co-founders have more than 250 collective years of game development experience, drawn from a team of roughly 20 former id Software developers. The total of 136 developers laid off by Microsoft in July 2026 leaves the exact number who moved to the new studio unconfirmed.
The players
Microsoft
Microsoft is a major American technology company that owns the id Software studio and its parent Xbox business, whose job cuts in July 2026 led to the layoffs that preceded the formation of Hidden Horses.
Hidden Horses
Hidden Horses is an employee-owned game studio formed by about 20 former id Software developers, organized as a democratically governed company where developers share in its success.
The details
Hidden Horses is a democratically governed, developer-owned company formed by former id Software staff. Its first planned game is Danger Pay, a singleplayer arena shooter set in a televised ultraviolent game show, which the studio plans to fund through a Kickstarter campaign.
Timeline
July 2026: Microsoft reportedly lays off 136 developers from id Software.
November 11, 2026: Hidden Horses formation is announced.
Industry Dynamics
The formation of Hidden Horses follows Microsoft's July 2026 Xbox job cuts, which reduced the id Software team by a reported 136 developers. It represents a response in which displaced developers form their own employee-owned studios instead of seeking to rejoin larger publishers.
For players who follow id Software titles, the studio's rebirth through Hidden Horses means the team behind its games remains intact, though its first new project is not yet available. Readers interested in backing independent development can watch for the planned Kickstarter campaign for Danger Pay.
The takeaway
Developer-owned studios formed after layoffs show one route for talent to stay together and share in the upside of their own work. Watch for the Danger Pay Kickstarter if you want to follow the project from the start.
What happens next
Hidden Horses plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign to fund development of Danger Pay, though no date for the campaign has been announced.
Further reading
For more on the business side of competitive gaming, explore eSports coverage on Wisevoter.
Live Poll
Would you trust a game studio run by its own developers more than a big publisher?
