Mick Gordon is the man who gave Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal their unmistakable metal sound. Now, at PAX Australia, the composer has made two things clear: a return to Doom is not out of the question for him – and generative AI is definitely not on his agenda.
Would Mick Gordon Return for a New Doom?
In an interview with IGN, Gordon stated that “many dominoes would have to fall in a very specific way” for it to happen. But if they did, he would do it: “Within a heartbeat.” He even has a whole list of ideas on where he would like to take the Doom music next.
He didn't specify which dominoes he meant. The backstory is well-known: after the release of Doom Eternal, there was a public falling out with the development team. In a lengthy Medium post in 2022, Gordon accused id Software of not paying him for roughly half of his work on the soundtrack and sharply criticized Executive Producer Marty Stratton. The fact that he's still so open about a comeback shows how much the brand means to him.
What Does This Mean for the Future of Doom?
From our perspective, this is primarily a signal to the community, not to id Software: the door is open, nothing more. Especially since the studio itself currently has other concerns. In July, 136 id Software employees were affected by cuts in Microsoft's Xbox division. Lead Services Programmer Chris Hays stated at the time, in essence, that it would be hardly feasible to build a AAA game with half the staff. So, a new Doom with Gordon is music to our ears for the future – a beautiful prospect for all who still have the sound of The Only Thing They Fear Is You ringing in their ears.
However, you'll still hear Gordon's work soon: he contributed the music for the final boss fight in Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 (releasing October 14). He's also working on the soundtrack for Defect, a cyberpunk squad shooter developed by veterans from the Doom and Call of Duty environments. Additionally, in 2027, he will headline the British RADAR Festival, performing the Doom and Doom Eternal songs for the first time with a full live band.
Why Does Mick Gordon Say "F##k AI"?
When asked if he would incorporate generative AI into his creative process, Gordon responded unequivocally with “F##k AI.” His reasoning: AI is always limited by the data it was trained on. It can never predict the next, truly new thing that humans will invent – it is inherently behind human creativity. Furthermore, he is convinced that people always want to interact with other people and seek genuine connection.
His working method aligns with this: for Doom 2016, he sampled real chainsaws to create the famous guitar riffs; for Killer Instinct 2013, he played a Kangling, a Tibetan instrument made from bone. For Boltgun 2 and Defect, Gordon says the music comes directly from his mind and his fingers.
The debate surrounding AI in game development has thus gained another prominent voice. Musicians and sound designers, in particular, are among the loudest critics in the industry – and Gordon's stance is likely to resonate well with many fans.
Would you like to see Mick Gordon in the next Doom? Let us know in the comments!
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