New FPS game from Doom creator John Romero no longer has a publisher

The new game from Doom co-creator John Romero no longer has a publisher, as Romero Games confirms that funding has been cut for the upcoming Unreal Engine 5 FPS. The project, which was announced in 2022, follows in the wake of Romero's acclaimed pair of Doom mods, Sigil and Sigil 2, but almost no other details have been revealed about its exact nature, including the identity of its former publisher. Now, the studio says it is evaluating its next steps and moving to support the team.

As the co-creator of the most important entry on our best FPS games list, a new IP from the studio founded by Romero and his partner, fellow long-time developer Brenda Romero, is naturally a very exciting prospect. The two Sigil campaigns were a welcome reminder that his ability to create impressive Doom levels remains just as sharp as ever, if not even more so than it was back in 1993.

Unfortunately, Romero Games has now delivered a solemn update. "We have some difficult news to share," Brenda Romero writes in a post to Bluesky. "Last night, we learned that our publisher has canceled funding for our game along with several unannounced projects at other studios. This was a strategic decision made at a high level within the publisher, well above our visibility or control. We deeply wish there had been something, anything, we could have done to prevent this outcome.

"This absolutely isn't a reflection of our team's work, performance, or the quality of the project itself," the statement continues. "We hit every milestone on time, every time, consistently received high praise, and easily passed all our internal gates. We are incredibly proud of the work being done, and of the talented team behind it. The best we've worked with."

Romero Games says it is "currently evaluating next steps and working quickly to support our team. Many of us have worked together for more than a decade, some for over 20 years. It's an extremely difficult day, and we're heartbroken that it's come to this. If you know of any opportunities or ways you can help our incredible team, please reach out. Thank you to everyone who's offered support and kindness and encouragement during this difficult time."

While the game's publisher hasn't been named, one former employee ties the news to Xbox. In response to the announcement, Christoph Redl, a hard surface artist, confirms they are no longer working at Romero Games. "Unfortunately, due to the recent Xbox layoffs, I've lost my position at Romero Games." Redl says they are "actively looking for new opportunities as a prop artist, hard surface artist, or 3D artist."

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