Id Software has released a video celebrating its 35th anniversary, while also teasing upcoming content. Founded back in 1991 by four members of the Louisiana software company Softdisk, id Software made major technological breakthroughs in video game development, specifically on PC, redefining the first-person shooter genre several times over with the Wolfenstein, DOOM, and Quake franchises. Wolfenstein laid the groundwork for the FPS genre to follow, DOOM helped popularize the genre, and Quake became the studio’s first proper 3D FPS game.

While the founders went their separate ways following the release of Quake in 1996, the studio continued to develop first-person shooter titles in the 2000s before being acquired by ZeniMax Media, the owners of Bethesda Softworks, in 2009. The studio thus publishes its games through Bethesda, and ZeniMax would later be acquired by Microsoft Gaming in 2021. Throughout all of this, id Software has continued to release several acclaimed first-person shooter games, recently launching DOOM: The Dark Ages in 2025.

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Id Software Directors Thank Fans For 35 Years, Announce More to Come

On the id Software Twitter account, the studio released a new video from studio director Marty Stratton and game director Hugo Martin celebrating the 35th anniversary of the studio and hinting at new things to come. In it, Stratton and Martin thanked “the best fans in the world” for all of their support of id Software over the years, and offered thanks to their partners across Microsoft Gaming and ZeniMax. While stopping short of saying names, the duo also thanks the developers who came before them and the founders of id, referencing Adrian Carmack, John Carmack, Tom Hall, and John Romero.

The pair also indicated that the studio would do some special things to celebrate this anniversary, with Stratton even saying that the team had “a lot coming up this week to celebrate” with the fans. He also noted that the team would spend 2026 celebrating “this anniversary and a lot of other anniversaries,” though he didn’t expound more on the studio’s upcoming plans. Martin also echoed Stratton’s comments, telling fans to “stay tuned” as the studio has “much more in store.”

Quake Character Descending Staircase (1)

While id Software may have plenty to reveal in 2026 to celebrate its 35th anniversary, a new major title in the DOOM franchise may be out of the question. The studio just released DOOM: The Dark Ages last year, so its next major title has likely just begun development and won’t be ready for a couple of years. While id Software may release some new downloadable content for the game this year, 2026’s celebration will likely be centered around discounts on currently available titles, as well as behind-the-scenes looks at the studio’s history.

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Marty Stratton’s comment about the studio celebrating “this anniversary and a lot of other anniversaries” does offer hope that the studio has some major surprise up its sleeve. Notably, 2026 also marks the 30th anniversary of the Quake franchise, id’s other noteworthy first-person shooter franchise. If the next mainline Quake title is not ready, perhaps id Software prepares some new content for the previously released remasters, or even a full remake, to celebrate the landmark shooter’s 30th anniversary.

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Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
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Released
May 15, 2025
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
Developer(s)
id Software
Publisher(s)
Bethesda Softworks
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