A group of developers laid off from id Software has formed an independent studio, and its first project is a shooter. Hidden Horses is an employee-owned studio of more than 20 former id Software staff, and according to VGC, it has turned to Kickstarter to fund that first game, a first-person shooter called Danger Pay. The setting is a deadly game show, which should tell you roughly what kind of Doom-adjacent carnage to expect.
A studio built on the layoffs
The team comes out of the Xbox cuts that hit id Software in July. We reported at the time that id Software lost 136 staff, and that the wider Xbox job cuts hit ZeniMax studios hard. Hidden Horses is the first sign that a chunk of that talent pool has decided to stay together rather than scatter across the industry.
The studio’s stated aim is to “pursue fun and creativity in our games, unencumbered by short-term thinking or chasing market trends”. A statement from the team says the ownership structure lets it value long-term health over short-term growth, and innovative gameplay over “shady monetization”. 80 Level adds that the studio’s website lists the team, many of whom have more than ten years in game development.
The pitch rests on a simple supply-and-demand argument. Producer Andrew Willis says in the studio’s documentary that skilled developers are suddenly available while players want more of this kind of game than has been made recently. He says watching the positive reviews for the Doom: The Dark Ages Revelations DLC convinced him that fans would buy what a team of id veterans makes.
The documentary also covers how the layoffs landed. 80 Level reports that staff speak openly about the shock and grief of losing their jobs, and one developer says the timing, a day before the DLC launched, felt like an attack. Technical artist Todd Boyce focuses on the upside instead: a team that has worked together for a decade already knows each other’s strengths, which he calls “almost a one in a million opportunity” in the film.
What Danger Pay is
Danger Pay is a single-player FPS. 80 Level says it takes place on a “deadly game show run by a sinister but charming AI host”, with a focus on classic FPS gameplay, weapons and enemies, and a promise that it will be “highly optimized”. VGC reports that the studio takes inspiration from The Running Man and Smash TV, which fits an arena-style structure.
The funding route is the other notable choice. Going to Kickstarter rather than a publisher keeps the studio’s decisions in its own hands, which matches the employee-owned model. It also means backers, not a platform holder, carry the early risk. The studio hasn’t shared a funding target in the coverage we’ve read, so check the campaign page before pledging.
Hidden Horses isn’t done with announcements. 80 Level reports that the studio has more reveals lined up, including a first look at the game, podcast appearances, Q&A sessions and a “promotional beer”. The studio’s official website is the place to follow those.
Why it matters for players
The story fits a pattern. Laid-off teams are increasingly regrouping into their own studios, and that’s one answer to the instability that followed the Xbox cuts, which also reached other teams such as World’s Edge. Whether crowdfunding can sustain a full FPS production is untested for this team, but they bring a decade of shared pipeline experience, which is the thing most Kickstarter shooters lack.
Is Hidden Horses owned by Microsoft or id Software?
No. According to VGC, it’s an independent, employee-owned studio made up of former id Software staff who were laid off.
What is Danger Pay about?
80 Level describes it as a single-player first-person shooter set on a deadly game show hosted by a sinister but charming AI. VGC says it draws on The Running Man and Smash TV.
Where can I back Danger Pay?
VGC links to a Kickstarter project page under the Hidden Horses name. We couldn’t read it, so check it for the funding goal, rewards and timeline before you pledge.
