Id working on new version of Doom 4

Legendary developer Id Software is working on a fresh version of Doom 4 according to sources at the studio talking to Kotaku.

Despite the project being officially announced in 2008, in 2011 following the release of Rage, work on the game was restarted due to management deciding it was not living up to expectations.

Following the release of the much-delayed Rage in 2011, upper management at the studio started paying more attention to the Doom project and made the decision to change its direction. Id has been instructed by publisher ZeniMax to focus entirely on Doom 4, cancelling Rage 2 which had entered the planning phase.

'An earlier version of Doom 4 did not exhibit the quality and excitement that Id and Bethesda intend to deliver and that Doom fans worldwide expect,' Bethesda vice-president of marketing and public relations Pete Hines told Kotaku. 'As a result, Id refocused its efforts on a new version of Doom 4 that promises to meet the very high expectations everyone has for this game and this franchise. When we’re ready to talk about the Doom 4 Id is making, we will let folks know.'

According to the sources within the studio, the earlier version of Doom 4 gained the nickname 'Call of Doom' thanks to its heavy reliance on scripted sequences and 'obligatory vehicle scenes'.

Built on Id's Tech 5 engine, also used by Rage, Doom 4 is being planned for next generation consoles, but even a vague release date has not been volunteered. ZeniMax hopes the title can generate as much cultural interest as its other studio Bethesda managed with Skyrim, arguing that Doom 4 can have the same scale of impact.