Carmack Leaves id Software to Build the Future of VR

John Carmack, a legendary figure in game development, has resigned from id Software, the company he helped establish 22 years prior. His departure on July 12, 2026, allows him to commit entirely to his work in virtual reality. Carmack played a crucial role in the early development and popularization of the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, even before Oculus became an official company.

Carmack's decision to focus solely on virtual reality comes after his previous role as Chief Technical Officer at Oculus, which he joined in August. He had initially planned to balance his commitments at both id Software and Oculus. However, as stated by id Software studio director Tim Willits, Carmack's work on id Tech 5 is now complete, and his departure will not impact ongoing projects.

This transition aligns with Carmack's personal interests, as he expressed a desire to focus on endeavors beyond traditional game development at id. The timing is also opportune as his private rocket-building venture, Armadillo Aerospace, was recently put on indefinite hold, potentially freeing him to pursue his passion for VR with undivided attention.