Editing Id Software (section)

== History ==

=== Formation ===
The founders of id Software – [[John Carmack]], [[John Romero]], and [[Tom Hall]] – met in the offices of [[Softdisk]] based in [[Shreveport, Louisiana]], developing multiple games for Softdisk's monthly publishing, including ''[[Dangerous Dave]]''. Along with another Softdisk employee, Lane Roathe, they had formed a small group they called Ideas from the Deep (IFD), a name that Romero and Roathe had come up with.<ref name="gspy origins" /> In September 1990, Carmack developed [[adaptive tile refresh|an efficient way to rapidly side-scroll graphics]] on the [[IBM PC compatible|PC]]. Upon making this breakthrough, Carmack and Hall stayed up late into the night making a replica of the first level of the popular 1988 [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] game ''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'', inserting stock graphics of Romero's Dangerous Dave character in lieu of Mario. When Romero saw the [[game demo|demo]], entitled ''Dangerous Dave in Copyright Infringement'', he realized that Carmack's breakthrough could have potential. The IFD team moonlighted over a week and over two weekends to create a larger demo of their PC version of ''Super Mario Bros. 3''. They sent their work to [[Nintendo]]. According to Romero, Nintendo had told them that the demo was impressive, but "they didn't want their intellectual property on anything but their own hardware, so they told us Good Job and You Can't Do This".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Allegra |date=December 14, 2015 |title=Doom dev shares rare Super Mario Bros. 3 PC demo |url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/12/14/10123754/john-romero-super-mario-bros-3-pc-demo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713212017/https://www.polygon.com/2015/12/14/10123754/john-romero-super-mario-bros-3-pc-demo |archive-date=July 13, 2021 |access-date=July 13, 2021 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref> While the pair had not readily shared the demo though acknowledged its existence in the years since, a working copy of the demo was discovered in July 2021 and preserved at the [[Museum of Play]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gurwin |first=Gabe |date=July 13, 2021 |title=Id Software's Super Mario Bros. 3 PC Port Found In The Wild |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/id-softwares-super-mario-bros-3-pc-port-found-in-the-wild/1100-6493889/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713200251/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/id-softwares-super-mario-bros-3-pc-port-found-in-the-wild/1100-6493889/ |archive-date=July 13, 2021 |access-date=July 13, 2021 |website=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref>

Around the same time in 1990, [[Scott Miller (programmer)|Scott Miller]] of [[3D Realms|Apogee Software]] learned of the group and their exceptional talent, having played one of Romero's Softdisk games, ''Dangerous Dave'', and contacted Romero under the guise of multiple fan letters that Romero came to realize all originated from the same address.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 15, 2006 |title=Interview with John Romero |url=https://legacy.3drealms.com/news/2006/05/the_apogee_legacy_19.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110121949/http://legacy.3drealms.com/news/2006/05/the_apogee_legacy_19.html |archive-date=November 10, 2014 |access-date=July 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 21, 2009 |title=20 Years of Evolution: Scott Miller and 3D Realms |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/4112/20_years_of_evolution_scott_.php |url-status=dead |website=[[Gamasutra]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808123226/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/4112/20_years_of_evolution_scott_.php |archive-date=August 8, 2013 |access-date=July 12, 2010|author-last1=Edwards|author-first1=Benj}}</ref> When he confronted Miller, Miller explained that the deception was necessary since Softdisk screened letters it received. Although disappointed by not actually having received mail from multiple fans, Romero and other Softdisk developers began proposing ideas to Miller. One of these was ''[[Commander Keen]]'', a side-scrolling game that incorporated the previous work they had done on the ''Super Mario Bros. 3'' demonstration.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=July 13, 2021 |title=Museum obtains rare demo of id Software's Super Mario Bros. 3 PC port |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/07/museum-obtains-rare-demo-of-id-softwares-super-mario-bros-3-pc-port/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713220727/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/07/museum-obtains-rare-demo-of-id-softwares-super-mario-bros-3-pc-port/ |archive-date=July 13, 2021 |access-date=July 13, 2021 |website=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref> The first ''Commander Keen'' game, ''[[Commander Keen in Invasion of the Vorticons]]'', was released through Apogee in December 1990, which became a very successful [[shareware]] game. After their first royalty check, Romero, Carmack, and [[Adrian Carmack]] (no relation) decided to start their own company.<ref name="NGen30">{{Cite magazine |date=June 1997 |title=Does John Romero Still Enjoy Shooting People? |url=https://archive.org/stream/NextGeneration30Jun1997/Next_Generation_30_Jun_1997#page/n9 |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |issue=30 |pages=8–12}}</ref> After hiring Hall, the group finished the ''Commander Keen'' series, then hired Jay Wilbur and [[Kevin Cloud]] and began working on ''[[Wolfenstein 3D]]''.{{r|lombardi199407}} id Software was officially founded by Romero, John and Adrian Carmack and Hall on February 1, 1991. The name "id" came out of their previous IFD; Roathe had left the group, and they opted to drop the "F" to leave "id". They initially used "id" as an initialism for "In Demand", but by the time of the fourth ''Commander Keen'' game, they opted to let "id" stand out "as a cool word", according to Romero.<ref name="gspy origins">{{Cite web |last=Keefer |first=John |date=March 31, 2006 |title=GameSpy Retro: Developer Origins, Page 15 of 19 |url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p15.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609133106/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p15.html |archive-date=June 9, 2007 |website=[[GameSpy]]}}</ref> In September 1991, they relocated to [[Madison, Wisconsin]].<ref name="mastersdoom pg 87">{{Cite book |last=Kushner |first=David |author-link=David Kushner (writer)|title=Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created An Empire And Transformed Pop Culture |title-link=Masters of Doom |publisher=[[Random House]] |year=2003 |isbn=0-375-50524-5 |page=87}}</ref> Later on April 1, 1992, they relocated to an office in [[Mesquite, Texas]].<ref name="mastersdoom pg 105">{{Cite book |last=Kushner |first=David |author-link=David Kushner (writer)|title=Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created An Empire And Transformed Pop Culture |title-link=Masters of Doom |publisher=[[Random House]] |year=2003 |isbn=0-375-50524-5 |page=105}}</ref>

The shareware distribution method was initially employed by id Software through Apogee Software to sell their products, such as the ''Commander Keen'', ''Wolfenstein'' and ''Doom'' games.<ref name=NGen30/> They would release the first part of their trilogy as shareware, then sell the other two installments by [[mail order]]. Only later (about the time of the release of ''Doom II'') did id Software release their games via more traditional shrink-wrapped boxes in stores (through other [[video game publisher|game publishers]]).

After ''Wolfenstein 3D''{{'}}s great success, id began working on ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]''. After Hall left the company, [[Sandy Petersen]] and [[Dave Taylor (game programmer)|Dave Taylor]] were hired before the release of ''Doom'' in December 1993.{{r|lombardi199407}}

=== The end of the classic lineup ===
''Quake'' was released on June 22, 1996 and was considered a difficult game to develop due to creative differences. Animosity grew within the company and it caused a conflict between Carmack and Romero, which led the latter to leave id after the game's release. Soon after, other staff left the company as well such as [[Michael Abrash]], Shawn Green, Jay Wilbur, Petersen and Mike Wilson.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barton |first=Matt |title=Matt Chat 54: Quake with John Romero |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq__3XNvvHI |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Pq__3XNvvHI |archive-date=2021-12-11 |access-date=15 July 2021 |website=YouTube|date=March 20, 2010 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> Petersen claimed in July 2021 that the lack of a team leader was the cause of it all. In fact, he volunteered to take lead as he had five years of experience as project manager in [[MicroProse]] but he was turned down by Carmack.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petersen |first=Sandy |title=Why Is Quake Like That? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUeu96TKQwU |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/MUeu96TKQwU |archive-date=2021-12-11 |access-date=15 July 2021 |website=YouTube|date=July 2, 2021 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== ZeniMax Media and Microsoft ===
On June 24, 2009, it was announced that id Software had been acquired by [[ZeniMax Media]] (owner of [[Bethesda Softworks]]). The deal would eventually affect publishing deals id Software had before the acquisition, namely ''Rage'', which was being published through Electronic Arts.<ref name="ZeniMax">{{Cite web |last=Remo |first=Chris |date=June 24, 2009 |title=Bethesda Parent ZeniMax Acquires id Software |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/bethesda-parent-zenimax-acquires-id-software |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626050105/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24183 |archive-date=June 26, 2009 |access-date=June 24, 2009 |website=[[Gamasutra]]}}</ref> ZeniMax received in July a $105 million investment from StrongMail Systems for the id acquisition, it's unknown if that was the exact price of the deal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Matt |date=July 8, 2009 |title=ZeniMax raised $105 million for id acquisition |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/zenimax-raised-usd-105-million-for-id-acquisition |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515115602/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/zenimax-raised-usd-105-million-for-id-acquisition |archive-date=May 15, 2019 |access-date=May 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2009 Digital Media M&a Round-Up |url=https://ru.scribd.com/document/24886393/2009-Digital-Media-M-a-Round-Up |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515113049/https://ru.scribd.com/document/24886393/2009-Digital-Media-M-a-Round-Up |archive-date=May 15, 2019 |access-date=May 15, 2019 |page=9}}</ref> id Software moved from the "cube-shaped" [[Mesquite, Texas|Mesquite]] office to a location in [[Richardson, Texas]] during the spring of 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Legendary Video Gaming Company Chooses Richardson |url=http://www.telecomcorridor.com/latest-news/legendary-video-gaming-company-chooses-richardson |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518012342/http://www.telecomcorridor.com/latest-news/legendary-video-gaming-company-chooses-richardson |archive-date=2011-05-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-11-10 |title=Why is Mesquite a major location in a Swedish video game about Nazis? |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/pop-culture/2017/11/10/why-is-mesquite-a-major-location-in-a-swedish-video-game-about-nazis/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Dallas News}}</ref> 

On June 26, 2013, id Software president [[Todd Hollenshead]] quit after 17 years of service.<ref>[http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/26/id-software-president-todd-hollenshead-leaves-company id Software President Todd Hollenshead Leaves Company] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629193938/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/26/id-software-president-todd-hollenshead-leaves-company |date=June 29, 2013 }}. IGN (June 26, 2013). Retrieved on August 23, 2013.</ref>

On November 22, 2013, it was announced id Software co-founder and Technical Director John Carmack had fully resigned from the company to work full-time at [[Oculus VR]] which he joined as [[Chief Technical Officer|CTO]] in August 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blog — John Carmack Joins Oculus as CTO |url=http://www.oculusvr.com/blog/john-carmack-joins-oculus-as-cto/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807153449/http://www.oculusvr.com/blog/john-carmack-joins-oculus-as-cto/ |archive-date=August 7, 2013 |access-date=November 23, 2013}}</ref><ref name="carmack-leaves-id">{{Cite web |title=Doom co-creator John Carmack officially leaves id Software |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/doom-co-creator-john-carmack-officially-leaves-id-software/1100-6416346/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123021956/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/doom-co-creator-john-carmack-officially-leaves-id-software/1100-6416346/ |archive-date=November 23, 2013 |website=GameSpot}}</ref> He was the last of the original founders to leave the company.

Tim Willits left the company in 2019.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=2019-07-18 |title=Tim Willits is leaving id Software |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/tim-willits-is-leaving-id-software/ |url-status=live |magazine=PC Gamer |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813025843/https://www.pcgamer.com/tim-willits-is-leaving-id-software/ |archive-date=August 13, 2019 |access-date=2019-08-24}}</ref> ZeniMax Media was acquired by [[Microsoft]] for {{USD|7.5&nbsp;billion}} in March 2021 and became part of [[Xbox Game Studios]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Bass |first1=Dina |last2=Schreier |first2=Jason |date=September 21, 2020 |title=Microsoft to Buy Bethesda for $7.5 Billion to Boost Xbox |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-21/microsoft-to-buy-bethesda-studios-for-7-5-billion-to-boost-xbox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921143256/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-21/microsoft-to-buy-bethesda-studios-for-7-5-billion-to-boost-xbox |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |access-date=September 21, 2020 |website=[[Bloomberg News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Andy |date=March 9, 2021 |title=Microsoft confirms its Bethesda acquisition is complete and 'some games' will be exclusive |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/microsoft-confirms-its-bethesda-acquisition-is-complete-and-some-games-will-be-exclusive/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309164348/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/microsoft-confirms-its-bethesda-acquisition-is-complete-and-some-games-will-be-exclusive/ |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |access-date=March 9, 2021 |website=[[Video Games Chronicle]]}}</ref>

=== Company name ===
The company writes its name with a lowercase ''id'', which is pronounced as in "did" or "kid", and, according to the book ''[[Masters of Doom]]'', the group identified itself as "Ideas from the Deep" in the early days of Softdisk but that, in the end, the name 'id' came from the phrase "in demand".<ref>{{Cite book |last=David Kushner |author-link=David Kushner (writer)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yyaxyKjyp2YC |title=Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture |date=April 24, 2003 |publisher=[[Random House]] |isbn=9780812972153 |access-date=May 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115094728/https://books.google.com/books?id=yyaxyKjyp2YC |archive-date=January 15, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> Disliking "in demand" as "lame", someone suggested a connection with [[Sigmund Freud]]'s psychological concept of [[Id, ego and super-ego|id]], which the others accepted.<ref name="lombardi199407">{{Cite magazine |last=Lombardi |first=Chris |date=July 1994 |title=To Hell and Back Again |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=120 |url-status=live |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=20–24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002210239/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=120 |archive-date=October 2, 2019 |access-date=November 16, 2017}}</ref> Evidence of the reference can be found as early as ''Wolfenstein 3D'' with the statement "that's id, as in the id, ego, and superego in the psyche" appearing in the game's documentation. Prior to an update to the website, id's History page made a direct reference to Freud.<ref>{{Cite web |title=id's History page |url=http://www.idsoftware.com/business/history/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515031735/http://www.idsoftware.com/business/history/ |archive-date=May 15, 2011 |access-date=October 25, 2010 |publisher=idsoftware.com}}</ref>

=== Key employees ===
* [[Kevin Cloud]] – Artist (1992–2006), executive producer (2007–present)
* Donna Jackson – Office manager / ''"id mom"'' (1994–present)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Palmeri |first=Christopher |date=October 18, 1999 |title=Don't Shoot While I'm Talking |url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/1999/1018/6410157a.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101091948/http://www.forbes.com/forbes/1999/1018/6410157a.html |archive-date=January 1, 2017 |website=[[Forbes]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 21, 2016 |title=We are Marty, Hugo, & Kevin from id Software – Ask Us Anything! • /r/Doom |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Doom/comments/58ol33/we_are_marty_hugo_kevin_from_id_software_ask_us/d9230xh/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709020128/https://www.reddit.com/r/Doom/comments/58ol33/we_are_marty_hugo_kevin_from_id_software_ask_us/d9230xh/ |archive-date=July 9, 2017 |access-date=December 31, 2016}}</ref>
* Marty Stratton – Director of Business Development (1997–2006), executive producer (2006–present),<ref name="build-it-yourself">{{Cite web |last=Steinman |first=Gary |title=Build It Yourself With DOOM SnapMap |url=https://bethesda.net/en/article/2xeuSDHYZCGUisguaOMoog/build-it-yourself-with-doom-snapmap |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709020128/https://bethesda.net/en/article/2xeuSDHYZCGUisguaOMoog/build-it-yourself-with-doom-snapmap |archive-date=July 9, 2017 |access-date=May 31, 2017 |website=bethesda.net}}</ref> studio director (2019–present)
* Hugo Martin – Creative director (2013–present)<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/LVLecokaRv4 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20161225132632/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVLecokaRv4 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |title=Hugo Martin on the Creativity Behind DOOM |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVLecokaRv4 |website=[[YouTube]]| date=December 23, 2016 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== Former key employees ===
Arranged in chronological order:
* [[Tom Hall]] – Co-founder, [[game designer]], [[level designer]], writer, creative director (1991–1993). After a dispute with John Carmack over the designs of ''Doom'', Hall was forced to resign from id Software in August 1993. He joined [[3D Realms]] soon afterwards.
* [[Robert Prince (video game composer)|Bobby Prince]] – Music composer (1991–1994). A freelance musician who went on to pursue other projects after ''Doom II''.
* [[Dave Taylor (game programmer)|Dave Taylor]] – [[game programming|Programmer]] (1993–1996). Taylor left id Software and co-founded [[Crack dot Com]].
* [[John Romero]] – Co-founder, [[game designer]], programmer (1991–1996). Romero resigned on August 6, 1996.<ref name="mastersdoom">{{Cite book |last=Kushner |first=David |author-link=David Kushner (writer)|title=Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created An Empire And Transformed Pop Culture |title-link=Masters of Doom |publisher=[[Random House]] |year=2003 |isbn=0-375-50524-5 |at=89}}</ref> He established [[Ion Storm]] along with Hall on November 15, 1996.
* [[Michael Abrash]] – Programmer (1995–1996). Returned to [[Microsoft]] after the release of ''Quake'', but eventually worked with Carmack again at [[Reality Labs]].
* [[Shawn Green (game designer)|Shawn Green]] – Software support (1991–1996). Left id Software to join Romero at Ion Storm.
* Jay Wilbur – Business manager (1991–1997). Left id Software after Romero's departure and joined [[Epic Games]] in 1997.
* [[Sandy Petersen]] – Level designer (1993–1997). Left id Software for [[Ensemble Studios]] in 1997.
* [[Mike Wilson (executive)|Mike Wilson]] – PR and marketing (1994–1997). Left id Software to become CEO of Ion Storm with Romero. Left a year later to found [[Gathering of Developers]] and later [[Devolver Digital]].
* [[American McGee]] – Level designer (1993–1998). McGee was fired after the release of ''Quake II''. He joined [[Electronic Arts]] and created ''[[American McGee's Alice]]''.
* [[Adrian Carmack]] – Co-founder, artist (1991–2005). Carmack was forced out of id Software after the release of ''Doom 3'' because he would not sell his stock at a low price to the other owners.<ref>{{Cite news |title=id Software loses Adrian Carmack |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/id-software-loses-adrian-carmack-gets-legal-battle |url-status=live |access-date=October 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026203811/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/id-software-loses-adrian-carmack-gets-legal-battle |archive-date=October 26, 2021}}</ref> Adrian sued id Software and the lawsuit was settled during the Zenimax acquisition in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Doom game creator buys Heritage resort |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/doom-game-creator-buys-heritage-resort-1.1938040 |url-status=live |access-date=October 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721090837/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/doom-game-creator-buys-heritage-resort-1.1938040 |archive-date=July 21, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Todd Hollenshead]] – President (1996–2013) Left id Software on good terms to work at [[Nerve Software]].
* [[John Carmack]] – Co-founder, technical director (1991–2013). He joined [[Oculus VR]] on August 7, 2013, as a side project, but unable to handle two companies at the same time, Carmack resigned from id Software on November 22, 2013, to pursue Oculus full-time, making him the last founding member to leave the company.
* [[Tim Willits]] – Level designer (1995–2001), creative director (2002–2011), studio director (2012–2019).<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 18, 2019 |title=Id Software director Tim Willits leaving after 24 years at studio |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/7/18/20699391/id-software-tim-willits-leaving-quakecon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720182355/https://www.polygon.com/2019/7/18/20699391/id-software-tim-willits-leaving-quakecon |archive-date=July 20, 2019 |access-date=July 30, 2019 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref> He is now the chief creative officer at [[Saber Interactive]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=August 12, 2019 |title=Former id Software boss Tim Willits joins Saber Interactive |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/former-id-software-boss-tim-willits-joins-saber-interactive/ |url-status=live |magazine=PC Gamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813025829/https://www.pcgamer.com/former-id-software-boss-tim-willits-joins-saber-interactive/ |archive-date=August 13, 2019 |access-date=13 August 2019}}</ref>
* [[Robert Duffy (programmer)|Robert Duffy]] – Chief Technology Officer (1998–2024). Robert left id Software in January 2024.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

=== Timeline ===
<timeline>
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PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:15
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = yyyy
Period = from:1991 till:2022
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1991

Colors =
 id:code       value:blue   legend:Programming
 id:design     value:green  legend:Design
 id:art        value:purple legend:Art
 id:management value:red    legend:Management

BarData =
 bar:JCarmack text:"John Carmack"
 bar:ACarmack text:"Adrian Carmack"
 bar:Romero text:"John Romero"
 bar:Hall text:"Tom Hall"
 bar:Wilbur text:"Jay Wilbur"
 bar:Green text:"Shawn Green"
 bar:Cloud text:"Kevin Cloud"
 bar:Prince text:"Bobby Prince"
 bar:Taylor text:"Dave Taylor"
 bar:Petersen text:"Sandy Petersen"
 bar:McGee text:"American McGee"
 bar:Wilson text:"Mike Wilson"
 bar:Jackson text:"Donna Jackson"
 bar:Abrash text:"Michael Abrash"
 bar:Willits text:"Tim Willits"
 bar:Hollenshead text:"Todd Hollenshead"
 bar:Stratton text:"Marty Stratton"
 bar:Duffy text:"Robert Duffy"
 bar:Martin text:"Hugo Martin"

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 width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
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 bar:Romero from:1991 till:1996 color:design width:3
 bar:Hall from:1991 till:1993 color:design
 bar:Wilbur from:1991 till:1997 color:management
 bar:Green from:1993 till:1996 color:code
 bar:Cloud from:1992 till:end color:art
 bar:Cloud from:2007 till:end color:management
 bar:Prince from:1992 till:1994 color:art
 bar:Taylor from:1993 till:1994 color:code
 bar:Petersen from:1993 till:1997 color:design
 bar:McGee from:1994 till:1998 color:design
 bar:Wilson from:1994 till:1997 color:management
 bar:Jackson from:1994 till:end color:management
 bar:Abrash from:1995 till:1996 color:code
 bar:Willits from:1995 till:2011 color:design
 bar:Willits from:2002 till:2011 color:management width:3
 bar:Willits from:2011 till:2019 color:management
 bar:Hollenshead from:1996 till:2013 color:management
 bar:Stratton from:1997 till:end color:management
 bar:Duffy from:1998 till:end color:code
 bar:Martin from:2013 till:end color:art
 bar:Martin from:2013 till:end color:design width:3
</timeline>