John Romero Announces Canceled Game Is Back and “Completely Redesigned”

John Romero, co-creator of Doom, co-founder of id Software, and founder of Romero Games, has announced that the untitled game, which was canceled by Microsoft following the company’s massive layoffs and cuts earlier this year, is back with a complete redesign.

Legendary FPS developer John Romero is back in action after announcing that his as-yet-untitled shooter has “survived” despite the cancellation by Microsoft, which comes after the company laid off 9,000 employees in July 2025.

Speaking at the Salón del Videojuego de Madrid, Romero revealed that while the game he was working on was not the same as the canceled game, it “incorporates many elements” of those games.

Romero Games: Rescued from the Abyss

After Romero Games’ shooter lost funding following Microsoft and Xbox layoffs, many fans were worried about the studio, which saw its upcoming game stall mid-development. Despite the concerns, Romero assured fans in October that there were plenty of “interested” parties looking to take on the project.

In his latest appearance at the Salón del Videojuego de Madrid, Romero has confirmed that although it is now a “much smaller game”, there are “110 very good people” working on it.

Not only that, Romero previously confirmed that the studio had $50 million in assets after the game’s cancellation, meaning the team wasn’t starting from scratch.

A “Completely Redesigned” Experience.

Interestingly, Romero has revealed that the game is no longer the same AAA monster it once was, and confirmed that the studio has taken “parts of it” and put it “into a brand new indie game.”

While the new game incorporates many features from the canceled project, it uses around $50 million worth of assets and has “essentially been completely redesigned” into something fresh and exciting.

The “Elden Ring” factor.

In a twist that will surprise fans, Romero compares his upcoming FPS to FromSoftware’s action RPG, telling fans that his game combines what makes Elden Ring so great, its “crazy places” and “different worlds” to create something that “will be new to people” in the FPS genre.

Romero teased that while it’s still a shooter, the feeling of playing it is unique. He wants players to ask: “What is that? That’s the idea behind what we’re doing in this game.”

Release Date & Future Outlook

Romero Games hasn’t announced a release date yet, and it’s likely there’s still no time yet if they completely redesign the FPS. But knowing 110 people are working on the shooter, which aims to emulate Elden Ring’s unique experience, has fans excited.

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