Overview
- Hidden Horses publicly announced its formation on November 11, 2026 as an employee-owned, democratically governed studio built by roughly 19–20 former id Software developers.
- All studio members own a share of the company and leaders are chosen through democratic processes to keep decision-making flat and collective.
- Named co-founders and senior hires include Todd Boyce, Dustin Land, Daniel Young, Andrew Willis, Jordan Turner, Tim Locke, and Allison Dombek, who together claim more than 250 years of industry experience.
- The studio’s first project is Danger Pay, a single-player arena shooter inspired by Smash TV and The Running Man, and the team plans a Kickstarter and a documentary-style promotion but has not released footage or a release date.
- Hidden Horses formed after Microsoft’s July 2026 layoffs at id Software that reportedly affected about 136 staff, and the founders say the move responds to that hardship by prioritizing stable jobs, creative freedom, and a rejection of exploitative monetization practices.