I’m curious about how ‘Id Software’ got its name. I’ve heard mixed stories about whether it’s from Freud’s psychological theory or something else. I want to understand the real background to it. Can someone clarify this for me?
The name ‘Id Software’ actually comes from a mix of influences, but primarily from Freud’s psychological concept of the ‘id,’ which represents the primal, instinctual part of the human psyche. The developers liked the idea because it reflected raw creativity and unbridled energy—basically, a perfect fit for their chaotic and groundbreaking approach to game development at the time.
Now, there’s also this more playful rumor that ‘id’ is short for ‘in demand,’ which might’ve been a bit of a tongue-in-cheek joke early on, but the core reference is definitely the Freudian philosophy. This makes sense when you consider how revolutionary their games like Doom and Wolfenstein 3D were—pure, visceral, and a bit primal, just like the id itself. Whether they fully leaned into the psychological meaning or just thought it sounded cool (which, let’s face it, it does), it stuck.
It’s not that deep though—like, these were game developers in the '90s, not a bunch of philosophers sitting around dissecting human nature. They just wanted something badass and edgy, and they nailed it.
It’s kind of a funny one, you’d think naming a company “Id Software” would have this huge, philosophical backstory, but honestly, I doubt it’s that deep. Sure, Freud’s concept of the “id” probably played a big role—it’s like, primal instincts and creativity, right? Something game devs could totes vibe with back in the day, especially when you consider the raw chaos of Doom and Wolfenstein 3D. Those games were basically the embodiment of “id”—no overthinking, just shoot stuff and survive. Classic.
But here’s where I kinda disagree with @waldgeist: I think the “in demand” theory might be more legit than they made it seem. It’s cheeky, it’s confident, it fits the '90s tech-culture bravado, doesn’t it? I mean, they were riding high as pioneers in first-person shooters, so branding themselves as “in demand” feels like an inside joke they could’ve leaned into.
If we’re being real, though, the name’s probably a mix of both theories plus whatever sounded badass to them in the moment. Add a sprinkle of the '90s love for short, edgy names, and boom—Id Software. Freud would’ve probably rolled his eyes and moved on.