QuakeCon 2026: id Software Founders to Reunite for Quake 30th Anniversary

id Software founders to reunite at QuakeCon 2026 id Software is heading into a milestone year. Founded in February 1991, the studio recently marked its 35th anniversary and will also observe the 30th anniversary of Quake in 2026. To celebrate, id has announced a rare reunion of its four original co‑founders at QuakeCon 2026, which runs August 6–9, 2026, at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. The gathering was confirmed during a DOOM: The Dark Ages one‑year anniversary stream. According to a post from John Romero on X (formerly Twitter), this will be the first time since 1993 that all four founders have been together, and it will also mark the first occasion on which all four attend QuakeCon. Romero framed the moment as a significant reunion for both the event and long‑time id fans. Historic context and developer timeline The four co‑founders—John Romero, John Carmack, Adrian Carmack and Tom Hall—played central roles in the early years of id Software. Tom Hall departed the company in August 1993, prior to the release of DOOM, amid reported creative differences. Romero has described Hall’s exit as a low point in the company’s early history. Adrian Carmack remained with id until 2005 and later pursued legal action related to his departure and shareholding. In 2014 Adrian Carmack became owner of the Heritage Golf & Spa Resort in Killenard, Ireland, and in 2016 he reunited with Romero on the Kickstarter‑launched Blackroom project, which ultimately did not reach release. John Carmack stayed at id the longest of the original four, leaving in 2013 to join Oculus VR as CTO. What to expect at QuakeCon 2026 Bethesda senior community lead Joshua Boyle indicated organizers have planned activities and other fan‑focused programs for the anniversary event. While specific panels or schedules have not been detailed, the confirmed attendance of all four founders raises expectations for at least one high‑profile panel or retrospective. General admission tickets for QuakeCon 2026 are currently on sale. For industry observers and fans of legacy FPS development, the reunion represents both a rare opportunity to hear from the creators of DOOM and Quake and a moment to reflect on id Software’s influence on modern PC and console shooters. Further program details and guest appearances are expected to be released as QuakeCon approaches.