id Software confirms a new game directed by Hugo Martin as Doom gets Slaughter Mode

id Software confirmed on November 12, 2026 that it is making a new game, with Hugo Martin again serving as game director. The studio posted the news on X in reply to Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who had said the team was already working on its next project. No title, genre, platform or date was given.

Before that game, Doom: The Dark Ages gets one more free addition. Slaughter Mode, an endless wave mode, arrives on November 16 for owners of the Revelations expansion, according to Bethesda.

What's confirmed

The new game. In its post, as quoted by PC Gamer, IGN and Kotaku, id said the project comes from its teams in Texas and Frankfurt and that it will be "some time" before it shares more. Kotaku notes that Martin directed both Doom Eternal and Doom: The Dark Ages. The studio did not say whether the game is a Doom sequel.

Where it was announced. IGN reports the news landed during Xbox's 25th anniversary celebrations around its FanFest event in Seattle. Sharma's own post highlighted Slaughter Mode first and then said the team is already working on its next game.

Slaughter Mode. Bethesda describes it as endless, randomized combat: escalating rounds of random encounters, bosses and arenas. Completing rounds earns Skulls, which unlock Slaughter Mode Slayer skins, weapon skins usable in every mode, profile icons and tracks from Andrew Hulshult's IDKFA soundtrack. Weekly challenges add more rewards.

Risk or secure. At each round checkpoint, players can secure their Skulls or choose Risk It, which raises a Skull multiplier. Dying with Risk It active loses every unsecured Skull. Each checkpoint you clear also unlocks a later starting point for future runs.

Who gets it. Slaughter Mode costs nothing extra for owners of the Revelations DLC, the Doom: The Dark Ages Premium Edition or the Premium Upgrade. Bethesda lists the date as November 16 without a time.

Background

id has had a hard year. According to PC Gamer, the studio reportedly lost more than 130 people in Microsoft's July layoffs, and Kotaku says its sources at the time described no newly greenlit game. In October, studio co-director Marty Stratton said id was still "incredibly viable" and working more closely with Wolfenstein developer MachineGames.

Doom: The Dark Ages launched on May 15, 2025, as a prequel to Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal, and its Revelations expansion followed in July 2026. IGN notes that Bethesda leadership has said it will focus its studios on the strongest franchises, which makes Doom or Quake the likeliest candidates, but neither has been confirmed.

My take: what it means for players

"Directed by Hugo Martin" tells me more than the post itself does. id's three modern Doom games each changed the formula: 2016 built the glory-kill loop, Eternal turned it into a resource-juggling puzzle, and The Dark Ages slowed you down with a shield and a parry. Whatever comes next, I expect another mechanical swing, not a safe sequel.

Slaughter Mode is the more interesting news for this weekend. Wave modes have kept shooters alive for years: Gears of War 2's Horde in 2008 and Halo 3: ODST's Firefight in 2009 both outlived their campaigns. The secure-or-risk checkpoint is a smart twist, because it turns every run into a betting decision, much like cashing out in an extraction shooter. I like that the rewards are cosmetic and the soundtrack unlocks; there is no reason to gate power behind a grind here.

What worries me is the gap. Doom Eternal arrived about four years after Doom (2016), and The Dark Ages about five years after Eternal. A team that just lost a big share of its staff will not be faster than that, so I would not expect to see this game before 2028 at the earliest. That is my estimate, not anything id has said.

What we don't know yet

• What the game is. id has not said whether it is Doom, Quake, Wolfenstein-related or a new series.
• Platforms and timing. No platforms, engine details or release window were given.
• Team size. Neither id nor Microsoft has said how many people are working on it.
• Slaughter Mode launch hour. Bethesda gave only the date, November 16, not a time in any timezone.

Quick facts

FAQ

Is id Software making a new Doom?

id has confirmed only a new game directed by Hugo Martin. It did not name the series, so a new Doom is likely speculation until the studio says more.

When does Slaughter Mode release?

Bethesda says November 16, 2026. It has not announced a time.

Do I need to pay for Slaughter Mode?

No extra payment is needed if you own the Revelations DLC, the Premium Edition of Doom: The Dark Ages or the Premium Upgrade.

What happens if I die in Slaughter Mode?

If Risk It is active, you lose all unsecured Skulls. Secured Skulls are kept, and cleared checkpoints stay unlocked as starting points.

More: id Software and MachineGames are collaborating more after the Xbox cuts.

Sources: Bethesda (Slayers Club news); Xbox Wire; PC Gamer; IGN; Kotaku. Image: Xbox Wire official Slaughter Mode art.