As a teenager, Carmack faced legal trouble for hacking into a school computer system. While a youthful indiscretion, this event highlights his early aptitude for programming and his willingness to push boundaries, albeit inappropriately. It resulted in a court-ordered year of probation.

id Software experienced internal disputes and disagreements between its founding members, particularly concerning the creative direction of games and the overall management of the company. These tensions contributed to the departures of some key individuals, including John Romero.

During his time at Meta, Carmack publicly expressed criticism of the company's bureaucracy, decision-making processes, and overall efficiency. He voiced concerns about the slow pace of development and the lack of focus on core VR technology, ultimately leading to his departure.