Id Software Hiring for Potential DOOM 3/Quake Reboot

Now that we can reasonably assume that most of the post-launch content for Id Software‘s 2020 masterpiece DOOM Eternal is finally out with its latest inclusion of Horde Mode as well as some of the last master levels, many Id Software fans, including myself, have been left wondering what’s the next project at works within Id Software. It seems that we may have gotten an indirect answer based on their recent job listing. 

The listing for Combat Designer in Zenimax‘s website reads as, “Combat is at the core of every id Software game, and we are looking for imaginative and knowledgeable Combat Designers to help us make industry-leading gameplay for our future AAA first-person action games.” This at least confirms that whatever Id Software is working on is very likely going to be another AAA First-Person Shooter. 

Another intriguing aspect of this listing is the statement that says:

• Collaborate with designers and artists to build specific combat spaces for the player and AI to engage in.
• Implement highly polished and memorable gameplay by creating diverse combat encounters that challenge players’ skills.  

This suggests that we can expect a similar arena-style combat approach seen in Id Software‘s past titles like DOOM 2016 and DOOM Eternal. Both games were designed around the player being locked into giant combat spaces with a large number of demons. This also suggests that just like DOOM Eternal, we will see more diverse combat arenas that go further past the plain arena-style combat of 2016. 

What makes the case even more apparent that this is a potential new DOOM or Quake game is one of the required qualifications, which read as:

• In-depth knowledge of recent id games, including DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal. 

In-depth knowledge most probably assumes the deeper gameplay mechanics of the recent DOOM games like weapon quick-swapping, animation canceling as well as higher skill tactics like the Meat Hook skips and Meat Hook Jump, which let the player skip entire chunks of level or unlock vast movement options in combat using the meat hook as a movement tool. 

One of the points in the preferred skills is also interesting, as it requires “Familiarity with all id Software games, characters, brands, and worlds.” meaning Id Software might be open to rebooting some of their other franchises as well.

Taking all this into account, it slowly becomes very apparent that Id Software may very well be working on another entry in the DOOM franchise; there have also been age-long rumors regarding a Quake reboot, and if this listing is anything to go by, we can probably see the long-awaited Quake reboot come to life with a similar level of depth as the recent DOOM games. 

Update: The listing in question is no longer available on ZeniMax’s official website.