Following a significant wave of job cuts at Microsoft in July 2026, a group of former id Software developers has announced the creation of a new independent game studio. The team, which includes approximately 20 individuals laid off from the renowned shooter developer, has established Hidden Horses as an employee-owned company. The studio aims to preserve the collaborative environment that defined their previous work while focusing on classic-style first-person shooters.
Hidden Horses Studio Structure
Microsoft reportedly laid off 136 developers from id Software during its July 2026 restructuring efforts. From this group, co-founders Dustin Land, Andrew Willis, and Johnmichael Quinlin have assembled a team they describe as having over 250 collective years of game development experience. The studio is structured as a democratically governed entity where developers hold ownership stakes, a model designed to prioritize long-term project health over short-term financial returns.
“This team has spent years building games together, and we realized that what made that experience special wasn’t just the projects we worked on; it was the people we worked with,” Land stated in a press release. He noted that the new structure allows the group to maintain their cohesion and build a product they believe players are seeking. Willis, serving as executive producer, emphasized that shared ownership fosters deeper commitment among staff members compared to traditional employment arrangements.
Danger Pay Kickstarter Campaign
The studio’s inaugural project is a singleplayer arena shooter titled Danger Pay. The game draws inspiration from 1980s and 1990s media, specifically citing the 1987 film The Running Man and the 1990 arcade title Smash TV. The premise involves players participating in a televised, high-stakes game show featuring intense combat scenarios. Hidden Horses plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign to finance the development of this title, inviting early community involvement from the start of production.
Quinlin, who serves as the studio’s tools programmer, highlighted the opportunity to build something new with the communities that supported their previous careers. The studio has established a presence on Bluesky to share updates and engage with potential backers. This move follows a broader trend in the industry where developers seek alternative funding models and ownership structures to maintain creative control and job security after corporate restructuring.
Source: PC Gamer
