Companies & Studios

id Software

The house that Doom built

id Software created Commander Keen, Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake, defining PC gaming and pioneering shareware distribution.

C64 developerspioneers 1991–

Overview

id Software made PCs into gaming machines. Commander Keen proved PCs could do console-style games. Wolfenstein 3D invented the first-person shooter. Doom made it a phenomenon. Quake brought true 3D and internet multiplayer. John Carmack’s engines, John Romero’s design, and aggressive shareware distribution changed gaming forever.

Fast facts

  • Founded: 1991 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
  • Founders: John Carmack, John Romero, Tom Hall, Adrian Carmack.
  • Distribution: Pioneered shareware—free first episode, pay for the rest.
  • Acquired: By ZeniMax Media in 2009, then Microsoft via Bethesda purchase (2021).
  • Notable games: Commander Keen, Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, Quake.

Shareware revolution

id’s distribution model was radical:

  • Give away the first episode free.
  • Players share copies—word of mouth marketing.
  • Hooked players buy remaining episodes.
  • Cut out retail, keep more revenue.

Doom spread like a virus through office networks and bulletin boards.

Technical leadership

John Carmack’s engines set standards:

  • Commander Keen: Smooth scrolling on PCs.
  • Wolfenstein 3D: Raycasting pseudo-3D.
  • Doom: Height variation, lighting, non-orthogonal walls.
  • Quake: True polygon 3D, client-server networking.

Each engine was eventually open-sourced, educating thousands of programmers.

Design innovation

Beyond technology, id innovated gameplay:

  • Deathmatch: Competitive multiplayer became standard.
  • Modding: Tools and source access encouraged community creation.
  • Level design: Doom’s levels were studied and imitated.

The split

Success brought tension:

  • John Romero left after Quake (1996).
  • Tom Hall left earlier, during Doom development.
  • Company continued under Carmack’s technical leadership.
  • Carmack eventually left for Oculus VR (2013).

Modern id

Under ZeniMax/Microsoft:

  • Doom (2016) revitalised the franchise.
  • Doom Eternal (2020) continued the momentum.
  • id Tech engines still power major releases.

Legacy

id proved small teams could compete with—and defeat—large publishers. Their technical innovation and shareware model created templates still used today. Every first-person shooter descends from their work.

See also