Bobby Prince, Composer of Original 'Doom' and 'Wolfenstein 3D', Dies at 76
Prince's music defined the sound of early first-person shooters and was formally recognized by the Library of Congress weeks before his death.
Key Facts
- Bobby Prince died on June 16, 2026, at age 76.
- He composed the soundtracks for 'Doom', 'Doom II', 'Wolfenstein 3D', 'Rise of the Triad', and 'Duke Nukem 3D'.
- The 'Doom' soundtrack was added to the U.S. Library of Congress National Recording Registry in May 2026.
- Prince was a Vietnam War veteran who served as a platoon leader in the U.S. Army before becoming a counselor, lawyer, and game composer.
- The Library of Congress cited the 'Doom' soundtrack as having 'influenced countless remixes and laid the foundation for the next generation of game composers.'
Reporting from 2 sources: GameBusiness.jp, Game Spark.
Bobby Prince, the composer behind the soundtracks of classic first-person shooters including 'Doom', 'Doom II', 'Wolfenstein 3D', 'Rise of the Triad', and 'Duke Nukem 3D', died on June 16, 2026. His work on the 'Doom' soundtrack was added to the U.S. Library of Congress National Recording Registry in May 2026.
Robert 'Bobby' Caskin Prince III, the composer who shaped the sound of early first-person shooters with his work on 'Doom', 'Doom II', 'Wolfenstein 3D', 'Rise of the Triad', and 'Duke Nukem 3D', died on June 16, 2026. His death was announced on the obituary site Legacy. Prince was also a Vietnam War veteran who served as a platoon leader in the U.S. Army before becoming a counselor, lawyer, and then a game composer and sound designer.
In May 2026, the 'Doom' soundtrack was added to the U.S. Library of Congress National Recording Registry. The registry cited the music as having 'influenced countless remixes and laid the foundation for the next generation of game composers.' The tribute on Legacy described Prince as kind, humorous, humble, generous, and creative, and noted his deep love for his family.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.