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Author: Game Infliction
EA Cuts Around 300 Roles, Including Roughly 100 at Respawn
In addition to the roughly 100 job cuts IGN reported earlier today at Respawn Entertainment, EA has made wider cuts across its organization today, impacting around 300 individuals total including those already reported at Respawn.
IGN understands that these wider cuts largely impacted EA’s Experiences team, which includes groups such as EA’s Fan Care team and various others working on customer support and marketing. As with other cuts at EA, those impacted will be given the opportunity to apply for other roles internally prior to being let go.
“As part of our continued focus on our long-term strategic priorities, we’ve made select changes within our organization that more effectively aligns teams and allocates resources in service of driving future growth,” an EA spokesperson said in an official statement.
“We are treating our people with care and respect throughout this process, working to minimize impacts by helping affected employees explore new opportunities within the company when possible and providing support during the transition.”
The roughly 100 jobs impacted at Respawn included individuals in development, publishing, and QA workers on Apex Legends, as well as smaller groups of individuals working on the Jedi team and two canceled incubation projects, one of which we reported on back in March, and the other of which was, per Bloomberg’s reporting, a new Titanfall game.
These cuts follow a number of other layoffs over the last few years at EA, including the elimination of 50 jobs at BioWare in 2023 and an unknown number more at Codemasters, and in 2024 a larger restructuring that resulted in 670 workers laid off company-wide, including around two dozen workers at Respawn.. And earlier this year, EA restructured BioWare, moving developers to other projects and laying off others.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Respawn reportedly lay off staff across Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi teams, cancel two incubation projects
Update: Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier has since reported that between 300 and 400 positions have been “eliminated” across EA, including around 100 at EA. One of the cancelled incubation projects was also apparently an extraction shooter set in the Titanfall universe.
Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment have announced that two of its incubation projects have been cancelled, leading to what it calls a number of “target team adjustments across Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi.” You may notice that this language is particularly obtuse, in that it doesn’t refer to these adjustments as layoffs. However, according to a report from IGN, layoffs have occurred, though just how many is currently unknown.
How to Play the Doom Games in Chronological Order
There’s a good argument to be made for Doom’s inclusion among the most influential game franchises of all time. It’s widely considered the progenitor of the first-person shooter genre that’s dominated the market for decades, paving the way for franchises like Call of Duty and Halo while retaining its relevance with excellent modern shooters.
As we near the release of the series’ next chapter, we’ve compiled a chronological list of every Doom game in order.
How Many Doom Games Are There?
There are six Doom games, excluding add-ons and enhanced versions of previously released games, though those are noted within each blurb where applicable. Doom: The Dark Ages will be the seventh mainline Doom game. This list excludes mobile games like Doom RPG, Doom Resurrection, and Mighty Doom.
Which Doom Game Should You Play First?
There are two logical starting points for new players: Doom (1993) or Doom (2016). Most players are better off starting with the 2016 version given its modern design. However, if you’re hellbent on experiencing the full story, your starting point has to be the 1993 original.
Every Doom Game in Chronological Order
The blurbs below contain broad spoilers for the plot of each game.
1. Doom (1993)
Following the release of id Software’s first two games — Commander Keen and Wolfenstein — the developer introduced Doom to the world in late 1993. The shooter was released with three episodes: Knee-Deep in the Dead, The Shores of Hell, and Inferno; the fourth episode, Thy Flesh Consumed, was released in 1995 as part of The Ultimate Doom.
Doom begins the saga by introducing the series’ original protagonist, an unnamed marine known as Doomguy, and sending him on a demon-slaying mission up to Mars before descending to hell. It ends with Doomguy’s discovery of a demon invasion on Earth, setting up the following year’s sequel.
2. Doom II: Hell on Earth (1994)
A year later, id Software released Doom II: Hell on Earth, picking up with the demon invasion of Earth seen at the end of Doom. Doomguy helps the survivors escape into space, leaving him as the last man on Earth, before descending back into hell to close the portal between the two realms.
Two add-on episodes were later released for Doom II: No Rest for the Living in 2010 and Legacy of Rust in 2024. Final Doom was a separate, two-episode game created by a community of mappers in 1996, though its content has since been consolidated into modern versions of Doom II.
All of the post-launch episodes mentioned above are set between the events of Doom II and Doom 64.
3. Doom 64 (1997)
Doom 64, id Software’s third entry in the franchise (and the third chronologically), sends Doomguy back into space to deal with an escaped demon and its reincarnated army. To defeat the threat, our hero eventually returns to hell, where he chooses to live out his years protecting humanity from the potential of future invasions.
The 2020 remaster of Doom 64 added The Lost Levels, which is set after Doom 64 and serves as a bridge between the original games and the rebooted series that began in 2016.
4. Doom 3 (2004)
There’s no definitive answer as to where Doom 3 exists on this timeline. Arguments have been made that it takes place before Doom (1993), after Doom 64, or in an alternate timeline altogether. We’re placing it after 64 given its later release date and our best understanding of the timeline, though its placement is ultimately inessential to understanding the ongoing narrative.
In Doom 3, players step into the boots of Doom Marine, an unnamed soldier who is not Doomguy from the previous games. The marine is tasked with investigating strange incidents at a remote laboratory on Mars. What follows is a demonic invasion of the Red Planet and the uncovering of a conspiracy to destroy humanity.
An add-on/sequel called Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil was released the following year. It’s set two years after the events of Doom 3 and follows a different unnamed marine’s attempt to return an artifact to hell.
A remastered version called Doom 3: BFG Edition was released in 2012 and included a new expansion called The Lost Mission, which takes place within the events of Doom 3. This version is also playable in virtual reality as Doom 3: VR Edition.
5. Doom (2016)
The 2016 reboot of Doom introduced Doom Slayer and began a new set of stories within id Software’s Doom universe. The story begins with Doom Slayer being awakened from a sarcophagus to deal with a new demonic threat on a Martian research facility. Doom Slayer, traveling back and forth between hell and Mars, again thwarts the demons’ attacks, before being betrayed and teleported to an unknown location.
A VR spinoff called Doom VFR was released in 2017. It’s set after the events of Doom and follows a Union Aerospace Corporation employee named Dr. Peters.
6. Doom Eternal (2020)
The latest game in the chronology is Doom Eternal. Set after the events of Doom (2016), Eternal sees Doom Slayer return to end another demonic invasion of Earth by killing the three Hell Priests. The story includes a key piece of series lore, revealing the connection between the original Doomguy and Doom Slayer.
Doom Eternal extended the timeline with two expansions: The Ancient Gods Part 1 and The Ancient Gods Part 2. The two-part story picks up after the events of Eternal, with the demons gathering strength in other dimensions and Doom Slayer enacting a new plan to destroy them. Part 1 culminates in the summoning of the Dark Lord; Part 2 is Doom Slayer’s pursuit and confrontation of the Dark Lord, revealing further details about the hero’s past.
Every Doom Game By Release Date
- Doom (1993)
- Doom II: Hell on Earth (1994)
- Doom 64 (1997)
- Doom 3 (2004)
- Doom (2016)
- Doom Eternal (2020)
- Doom: The Dark Ages (2025)
Upcoming Doom Games
The next game will be Doom: The Dark Ages, due out May 15. Doom: The Dark Ages stars Doom Slayer, a new and more powerful iteration of Doomguy that debuted in Doom (2016). The Dark Ages is a prequel to Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal, according to Bethesda, in which players “step into the blood-stained boots of the Doom Slayer, in [a] never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell.” You can check out more of IGN’s coverage ahead of the game’s release:
- Doom Is Having Its Halo Moment With The Dark Ages
- How Doom’s Combat Evolves Alongside Modern Metal Music
- Doom: The Dark Ages Developers Discuss the Future of Doom
Jordan covers games, shows, and movies as a freelance writer for IGN.
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero just got a huge discount on PC, and plays great on Steam Deck
If you’ve been even a little curious about Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, now’s the time to grab it. It’s currently down to $46.19 / £39.59 on PC, so here’s how to get the deal.
Apex Legends and Star Wars: Jedi Dev Respawn Cancels Another Incubation Project, Lays Off Unknown Number of Individuals Again
EA has canceled another incubation project at Respawn Entertainment today, and simultaneously laid off an unknown number of individuals across its incubation, Apex Legends, and Star Wars: Jedi teams, IGN has learned.
In a post today from the studio, Respawn announced is has “made the decision to step away from two early-stage incubation projects and make some targeted team adjustments across Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi.” One of these canceled incubation projects is the same one already reported on back in March.
“These decisions aren’t easy, and we are deeply grateful to every teammate affected — their creativity and contributions have helped build Respawn into what it is today,” the post continued. “We’re offering meaningful support to those impacted, including exploring new opportunities within EA.”
IGN understands that Respawn currently employs roughly 100 individuals, and those affected by the changes include a mix of developers, publishing, and QA workers on Apex Legends, as well as smaller groups of individuals on the Jedi team and on the incubation projects. IGN also understands that at least some, though not all, of the developers from the incubation project reported on in March have already been moved to work on Iron Man at EA Motive. When asked, EA declined to comment on the exact number of individuals impacted, saying it is offering impacted individuals 30 days to find a new opportunity inside the organization and is endeavoring to find roles for as many individuals as it can internally.
Internally at Respawn, work will continue on Apex Legends and the next entry in the Star Wars: Jedi franchise, as well as support on the upcoming Bit Reactor Star Wars game, Star Wars: Zero Company. EA declined to say whether or not any other incubation projects are currently in the works.
In addition to these changes, Respawn SVP of operations Daniel Suarez is being elevated to general manager of Respawn, and will report directly to Vince Zampella. Previously, Zampella served as GM of Respawn, the studio he founded, in addition to his role as head of the Battlefield franchise. Zampella will continue as group GM and EVP overseeing both Battlefield and Respawn.
Notably, just last February, EA told investors that Apex Legends was “not headed in the direction that we have wanted” and hadn’t been for some time. CEO Andrew Wilson said that Respawn is currently working on a major update, dubbed “Apex 2.0”.
“Our expectation is that Apex will also be one of those franchises and that sometime on a longer-term time horizon, there will be an even bigger, more meaningful update to that broader game experience, an Apex 2.0, if you will. This will not be the final incarnation of Apex,” Wilson said.
These changes continue a trend at EA of canceled projects, layoffs, and restructuring that’s been going on for several years now. It began in 2023 with the elimination of 50 jobs at BioWare and an unknown number more at Codemasters, and continued when EA laid off 670 workers company-wide, including around two dozen workers at Respawn, and canceled several projects. More recently, EA restructured BioWare, moving developers to other projects and laying off others.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Splinter Cell lives… in the form of Steam achievements for the 12 year old Blacklist
If a Splinter Cell remake fell in the woods, would over the top industry secrecy and NDAs even allow us to hear it? That’s the million dollar question literally no one is asking, because who phrases things that way, but enough about that game that may or may not exist at this point in time, we’ve got a different Splinter Cell to talk about: Blacklist. Yes, the, technically speaking, most recent entry in the series just received a little update on Steam yesterday which… adds achievements into the game.
Grant Kirkhope Apparently Got A Bananas Reason For His Missing Mario Movie Credit
“I don’t think they ever really liked DK 64 that much”.
If you cast your mind back to 2023 and the release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, you may recall that composer extraordinaire Grant Kirkhope was rightfully bemused upon finding out that he didn’t get a credit at the end of the film, despite his ‘DK Rap’ playing a pretty prominent role in its contents. As it turns out, Nintendo did eventually provide an explanation for its exclusion, though it still doesn’t make a lot of sense.
In a recent interview with Eurogamer, the Donkey Kong 64 composer stated that he reached out to Nintendo for clarification on “why they didn’t just put my name on it” and was met by a policy with more than its fair share of caveats.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Towerborne Arrives on Xbox Today – Five Tips to Help You “Ace” Your Adventure
It’s finally time –Towerborne arrives on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Xbox Cloud and with Game Pass today! To celebrate the looter-brawler’s entrance into Xbox Game Preview, we’ve compiled some tips and tricks to get you started on your Ace adventure.
Experiment!
While Towerborne is easy for anyone to pick up and play, there is a satisfying depth to its combat systems – and combinations of skills and attacks you’ll only uncover by experimenting with each of the four classes. While each class has a “theme” defined by the weapon type, there’s versatility in how you can play with them. Even if you think you’ll prefer a certain loadout, it’s worth giving them all a go, and with Towerborne’s frictionless class-swapping and re-spec options, changing your mind (and your build) is an absolute breeze.
Build for Success
The new Class Mastery Update (which we covered in-depth last week) gives even more versatility to each class in Towerborne. There’s now countless more ways to play with each weapon, with the addition of new skill trees that let you hone a specific playstyle. Sentinel can be a fast and offensive frontline attacker, but it can also be sturdy and defensive. Some builds can focus heavily on dealing raw damage, while others can lean more towards a support build, lifting your teammates. Here’s a few examples across each of the available classes:
Bleed Build: The Sentinel class comes with several skills that deal or enhance bleed, which deals slow damage to enemies you’ve hit over time. The ‘Bloodlust’ skill lets you deal 10% more damage against bleeding enemies, and the ‘Sanguine Burst’ skill enables your heavy combo to consume all bleed stacks, triggering an explosion that deals massive damage.
Sear Build: The Pyroclast is all about inflicting burndamage, but there’s a few ways to build upon that. The skill ‘Persistent Pyre’ will increase the duration of your Sear damage, and when your Sear skill is active, you’ll be able to pull off moves like ‘Ember Cyclone’, a stylish airborne attack, and ‘Ember Spike’, which delivers a long-range tremor that explodes on the closest enemy.
Powderkeg Build: The Rockbreaker already packs a punch, but you can amplify its impact even more now. Stacking “Quick Charge” skills to make your Powderkeg Punch charge faster, which is always great. The skill “Cracking Skulls” gives you a fully charged Powderkeg Punch if you break an enemy’s Break Bar. Couple that with “Cracking Knuckles” and you’re able to gain a full charge by Block Breaking an enemy. You can even do the weapon mechanic in the air now or transform it into a lunging attack with the “Bare Knuckles Blast” skill. If you’re a fan of big punches, then this is a great way to build your Rockbreaker.
Projectile Frenzy Build: This is a super fun Shadowstriker that revolves around the power of projectiles. The “Shooting Stars” skill unlocks a handful of kunai, and the “Shadow Feint Ammo” skills increase your ammo count so that you can use your Weapon Mechanic more often, allowing you to launch projectiles all over the place. The “Shadowsting” Skill is what really sets this build apart though – this modifies your Weapon Mechanic in a way where you no longer teleport, but it costs half the weapon meter to use and deals poison. If you’re the type of player who likes to alternate between mid to long range combat, this is the skill set for you.
Support Build: Healers are the underrated heroes of any party, but in Towerborne, any of the four available classes can spec out into a support character. There are skills that can upgrade how much health your healing flasks give back, increase how many you carry, and even an ability that lets other players benefit from your healing if they’re nearby. Anyone can pick up these skills providing they’re a high enough level, and the ability to swap and change skills at the click of a button means no one is indefinitely locked into that support role (unless you want to be, of course!).
Take Your Time, Memorize The Moves
Gobos are not stealthy or subtle creatures, but some of the nastier ones do pack quite a punch. In more difficult fights, there’s no shame in holding back for just a moment to work out how your enemy is going to attack, and what you can do to combat it. Lots of Gobo moves come with signals that indicate what they’re about to do, whether it’s a long-range projectile, a swift claw hit or a sluggish tail thwack. Keeping an eye on the battlefield and recognising their patterns means you’ll be able to dodge and weave, find windows to attack, and most importantly, avoid taking damage so you can save your Mender’s (healing) Flasks for more unpredictable battles later in the mission.
Taste of Their Own Medicine
It’s not just your weapons that can deal damage to gobos and goons – you can take advantage of their gear too. As an example, some gobos carry bombs to throw at you, and a swift enough hit will knock them off course, causing them to drop the projectile at their own feet. The gobos also won’t move to avoid the damage, instead opting to cover their eyes and pray, so it’s a great way to finish a few off, or buy some time while you’re cleaning up the field. Some levels will also include environmental hazards, like thorns or exploding barrels. Baiting a gobo into hitting a barrel will not end well for them, and that’s another way to deal big damage if your weapon is preoccupied with other targets. It’s also just extremely satisfying, every single time.
Umbra Abilities
Not only are Umbra cute little companions, they also come loaded with different powerful abilities that’ll assist your Ace in battle. Your first Umbra, Iska, offers a long-range projectile to complement the close-range combat that most classes start with. As you progress, you’ll uncover opportunities to earn new Umbra. Pox, for example, unlocks new aerial combos, while Picus can ignite the environment around them in a ring of fire. Each one is super unique, and their abilities can either enhance your playstyle, or add a refreshing contrasting perk to your skillset.
We can’t wait to see you in the Belfry and hope these tips will aid you well on your first adventures throughout the world of Towerborne. Play Towerborne now on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC in the Xbox App, Xbox Cloud, via Game Pass, and on Steam.
Towerborne (Game Preview)
Xbox Game Studios
Towerborne is a new kind of Looter Brawler, combining side-scrolling combat with action RPG loot progression and endless customization.* You are an Ace, born anew from the spirit realm with special skills, grit, and determination. Unite with other Aces** and fight as one to defend the Belfry, humanity’s last refuge, from the dark forces outside its walls. Can you become the Ace humanity needs to survive? Explore, fight, and grow stronger – together
Explore Together – With an evolving world map and ongoing updates, your adventure continues with new enemies, regions, rewards, and story. Venture solo or with up to three other Aces** and recruit Umbra allies with unique abilities to join your fight. Return to the Belfry to reforge gear and continue your journey.
Fight Your Way – Jump into satisfying, pick-up-and-play brawler combat that’s easy to learn but challenging to master. Towerborne delivers fast-paced, thrilling battles with deep, evolving strategy. Every fight is a chance to sharpen your skills and face tougher challenges.
Endless Customization* – Customize your Ace’s appearance, gear, and weapons. Set your preferred danger level in the Wilds, wield powerful weapons with special moves, and mix gear and Umbra companions to create a playstyle that’s uniquely yours.
This game is a work in progress. Some content and features may change over time before full release of the game. Please purchase only if you are comfortable with the game in its current state.
Full details on the latest status of the game, and how you can give feedback and report issues can be found at https://www.Towerborne.com/.
* This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items.
**Online console multiplayer requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Game Pass Core (subscriptions sold separately).
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Watch the Borderlands 4 gameplay deep dive State of Play on April 30
Get ready for a deep dive on Borderlands 4! During this special State of Play, I’ll be joined by other members of the Gearbox team to share the nitty-gritty details of how you’ll wreak havoc across Kairos and take down the Timekeeper.
Catch the show live on PlayStation’s Twitch and YouTube channels on April 30 at 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 10pm BST / 11pm CEST.
Back at February’s State of Play, we unveiled the game’s Launch Date Trailer, which showcased a taste of the explosive action, fearsome enemies, and powerful loot. Since then, we’ve announced that Borderlands 4’s launch has moved up to September 12, 2025, meaning you’ll get to enjoy the looter shooter action even earlier!
In this upcoming State of Play, strap in with me and Anthony Nicholson, Senior Project Producer, for over 20 minutes of developer-guided gameplay, including missions, killer weapons, exciting Action Skills, new and returning characters, and more.
While you wait, check out the game’s key art, which we just revealed today, and remember to wishlist Borderlands 4 at PlayStation Store. We’ll see you on April 30.
