Doom Eternal Composer Alleges Unpaid Wages and Abuse in Lengthy Soundtrack Controversy Response
Two years after the controversy over the mixing of Doom Eternal’s soundtrack highlighted a behind-the-scenes conflict between the game’s developer and composer Mick Gordon, Gordon has finally spoken out.
and medium long post.OST.
For context, Gordon’s issues were first highlighted when the Doom Eternal soundtrack was released alongside the Collector’s Edition in 2020, and fans were warned about the discrepancy in sound mixing between the soundtrack and the same piece of Doom 2016. At the time, Gordon pointed out the following on social media: Because he did not mix the track in question, Doom Eternal executive producer Marty Stratton issued an official statement about Gordon’s work on the game. announced. Stratton’s account included multiple concerns that Gordon would not be able to deliver the promised work on time, and concluded by noting that they would not work together again. .
But now Gordon paints a very different picture.
Mick Gordon claims crunch and multiple payment issues
He begins by explaining that he has a tight deadline for final versions of promised music tracks (two finished songs per month). But he says there was a lack of direction as to what levels or environments these tracks were meant to cover, due to constant development changes and missed milestones.
Gordon then claims to have proposed another scheduling plan to management so that they could first create a broader, reusable theme that would shape into a specific final version when the level was rolled out. However, Stratton says it was dismissed. increase.
Gordon says all this was interrupted by slow communication from management, being shut out of meetings about music, and increasing ostracism from the rest of the team.
That was not all. Gordon also noted that while working on Doom Eternal, id Software “changed their minds” and tried to refuse payment because they didn’t want to use the music he provided, as well as other delays and postponements. I have also complained about multiple payment issues. Payment on time. At one point, Gordon claims he was without pay for 11 months. When the game and soundtrack were finally released, Gordon says he realized he had used almost all of his music, including a number of tracks he thought had been rejected, but he was only half paid to to do so.
Gordon also claims that id Software ignored attempts to enter into such a deal without making a deal with him when announcing the aforementioned Doom Eternal OST. He eventually approached Bethesda directly with a deal, and after multiple contacts and contract delays, crunched to get one song for 12 songs and complete it on time. However, Gordon went on to reveal that Stratton had been in negotiations again, adding further pressure to finish it quickly, and that audio designer Chad Mossholder had been working on another OST for months. According to Gordon, Mossholder’s work was largely a compilation of his own original scores, which ultimately formed the bulk of the final release.
“I never quit Doom. I quit a toxic client.”
After its release, Gordon says Stratton scheduled a call with him to discuss negative feedback on the OST. Gordon eventually agreed to release a joint statement, claiming he expected the draft to reach his inbox. open letter Instead, on Reddit, Gordon said he was harassed, pounded, and attacked by emails and phone calls. claims to have broken up. At one point, Gordon says he was offered a six-figure number to take all public responsibility for the OST’s failure, but he declined the offer.
Despite months of negotiations before Microsoft announced it would buy Bethesda and Gordon claimed Stratton had become increasingly hostile, no deal was reached.
“I’ve worked on some great games, made lifelong friendships, and worked hard in the trenches with some of the best creative minds on the planet,” concludes Gordon. I’ve had experiences, and my “collaboration” with Marty Stratton was not one of them.
“I never quit DOOM. I quit a toxic client.
“Marty couldn’t accept that I never wanted to work with him again and tried his best to send my career plummeting as punishment.” .”
Bethesda and Stratton have not yet responded to Gordon’s accusations. IGN has reached out to Bethesda for comment.
Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. you can find her on her twitter @duck valentine.
