Doom creator John Romero's cancelled shooter has been saved, with fresh redesign inspired by Elden Ring

Eurogamer
Wed, 10 Dec 2025 11:00:42 +0000

John Romero's cancelled shooter has been revived after securing new publishing support. Following layoffs at Microsoft, Romero Games confirmed the project had "survived cancellation." The game has undergone a complete redesign, incorporating elements from its previous iteration while being described as a "much smaller" and more enjoyable experience. Romero emphasized that the gameplay will offer new experiences akin to exploring Elden Ring, although specific design details remain under wraps.

2025-12-10 | PCGamesN: Doom co-creator's scrapped FPS game has been "completely redesigned" into something that'll blow you away like Elden Ring

John Romero, co-creator of Doom, revealed at the Salón del Videojuego de Madrid that his scrapped FPS game has been "completely redesigned" into a smaller-scale indie project. Despite Microsoft’s cost-cutting leading to cancellations, Romero Games has repurposed the game, retaining elements from the original. The new shooter aims to provide a unique experience akin to Elden Ring, though details on funding and release dates remain undisclosed.

2025-12-10 | Push Square: Almost Killed by Xbox Layoffs, John Romero's Next Game Has 'Survived'

John Romero has announced that his next game has "survived cancellation" despite Microsoft cutting its funding during recent layoffs. Speaking at a video game expo in Madrid, he revealed the project is now "much smaller" and a shooter, with a design that is "completely different" from its original concept. However, with 110 staff members still on board, the team is not starting from scratch, as they are incorporating many elements from the previous version.

2025-12-10 | TechRaptor: John Romero's Shooter Has Been Saved Following Funding Pull

John Romero's in-development shooter, previously at risk of cancellation due to a funding pull likely from Xbox, has been saved and redesigned. At a Madrid gaming fair, Romero confirmed that the project, involving 110 team members, incorporates elements from the earlier game but is not directly related. He aims for a unique experience akin to "Elden Ring." The funding issues coincided with significant layoffs and project cancellations at Microsoft.

2025-12-10 | GamesRadar+: Doom creator John Romero's canceled game is now a "much smaller game," but it "will be new to people, the way that going through Elden Ring was a really new experience"

John Romero has announced that his canceled FPS project has been reimagined as a smaller game, incorporating elements from the original concept. Despite the loss of funding due to Microsoft layoffs, Romero Games has redesigned the game, which he claims will offer a unique experience akin to what players felt with Elden Ring. The studio is excited about the new direction, utilizing assets from the previous project.

2025-12-10 | Pure Xbox: Romero Games Has Taken Its Cancelled Xbox Shooter And Made Something New With It

Romero Games has successfully salvaged its cancelled Xbox shooter project, which was halted by Microsoft last summer. John Romero announced that the game has been "completely redesigned" while retaining elements from the original version. The new iteration will be a "much smaller game," utilizing old assets in a fresh design. The team is excited about this new direction, indicating progress in developing the project into an indie game.

2025-12-10 | GameSpot: John Romero's Canceled Shooter Is Back On Again, Sort Of

John Romero announced that his canceled first-person shooter project is back in development with a fresh redesign. During the Salón del Videojuego de Madrid, he stated that while the game is not the same as the previous version, it retains many elements and is now a smaller-scale indie title. Romero hinted at innovative gameplay experiences, comparing it to the fresh experience of Elden Ring. The project was previously affected by layoffs at Romero Games and Microsoft.

2025-12-10 | Rock Paper Shotgun: Doom co-creator John Romero's shooter was a casualty of Microsoft's cuts, but it's being "completely redesigned" into a smaller game

John Romero's studio, Romero Games, is redesigning their canceled shooter project into a smaller game after Microsoft withdrew funding. The new game will incorporate elements from the original but is described as a fresh experience. Romero emphasized that the development team will be more hands-on, allowing them to utilize their skills directly. While details remain scarce, he hinted at innovative gameplay experiences akin to those found in Elden Ring.

2025-12-10 | Insider Gaming: John Romero’s Canceled Game Has Been Saved…Sort Of

John Romero announced at the Madrid Video Game Show that his canceled game has been revived, albeit in a redesigned form. The game retains elements from the original but is now a different project. Romero emphasized that the team is excited about the new design, which is smaller and more enjoyable to develop. He cited Elden Ring as an inspiration, aiming to create a unique experience for players.