What Xbox's Cancellation Means for Romero's FPS Future

For players, it means Romero's FPS isn't dead—just different. For the industry, it shows how a hands-off publisher can let a studio rebuild after a major setback.

For players, it means Romero's FPS isn't dead—just different. For the industry, it shows how a hands-off publisher can let a studio rebuild after a major setback.

Key points - Romero Games announced an all-new FPS with an original IP in 2022. - The project was seemingly cancelled in summer 2025 amid Xbox layoffs. - The studio shrank from 110 to five people but later brought 10 back. - A new publisher has signed on, and the game is being redesigned for a smaller team. - Romero says the new publisher has zero creative goals and lets the team make what they want.

Timeline - 2022: Romero Games announces an all-new FPS with an original, new IP. - Summer 2025: The project is seemingly cancelled amid Xbox layoffs; Xbox is revealed as the unannounced publisher. - Over a year later: Romero confirms a new publisher and a redesigned game with a smaller team.

FAQ

Q: Is John Romero's new FPS still happening? A: Yes. Romero confirmed the game has a new publisher and is in development with a redesigned scope and a smaller team.

Q: Why did the team shrink so much? A: After Xbox cancelled the project, Romero Games had to make redundancies. The team went from 110 to five before bringing 10 leads back.

Q: Will the new game be the same as the original vision? A: No. Romero says the original 110-person game can't be finished, so it's a complete redesign that reuses art, weapons, and other work.