Romero Games Claims It Isn’t Closed, Is Looking For Publisher For Unannounced Game

Following the Microsoft layoffs last week, Romero Games disclosed that their upcoming unannounced FPS had been cancelled after its publisher pulled funding. While their contract forbade the studio from explicitly stating that Microsoft was their former publisher, several staff and sources anonymously confirmed this to be the case. After the funding cut, an employee at the company posted on LinkedIn that the entire team was being laid off. Additionally, The Journal reported that several former employees said that the studio was closing down.

In addition to confirming that they haven’t been closed, Romero Games also gave some more good news that they’ve “been contacted by several publishers” interested in helping them complete their unannounced game, and how they’re “currently evaluating those opportunities.”

Romero Games was founded by development duo John and Brenda Romero in 2015. John Romero famously worked at id Software and contributed to games like Doom and Quake, among others. Brenda Romero is most known for her work on the Wizardry titles, as well as her non-digital game series, The Mechanic is the Message. Romero Games has released four titles, including Sigil, which is an unofficial fifth episode of Doom (1993), and Empire of Sin, a strategy RPG set in Prohibition-era Chicago.

Before Microsoft cut its funding, Romero Games had around 42 employees as of last year, with a broader network of more than 100 working on their unannounced project. It’s unclear how many are currently still at the company, and whether landing a publisher deal will result in many of these employees being rehired.