Robert Prince III – best known as Bobby Prince, the man behind the iconic score of the original Doom game – has died aged 81.

In an obituary, his family paid tribute to “beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, veteran, attorney, musician, composer, and friend”, confirming he passed peacefully on Tuesday, 16th June.

As the son of an Army officer who himself later led a platoon during the Vietnam War, he was raised in Athens, Georgia, “where the seeds of a remarkable life in music were first planted”. Music remained a “constant thread throughout his life and was shared with family, lifelong friends, and fellow musicians”.

“His innovative work helped define an era of gaming and influenced generations of players around the world,” the obituary said. “Through his compositions and sound design for landmark titles including Doom, Doom II, Wolfenstein 3D, Rise of the Triad, and Duke Nukem 3D, Bobby helped establish video game music as a respected art form. In 2006, the Video Game Industry honoured him with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

“In 2026, the soundtrack to the original Doom was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress, ensuring that his groundbreaking work would remain part of America’s cultural heritage for generations to come.”

“Everyone at Romero Games is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Bobby Prince. He left an incredible mark on games and on my life,” wrote John Romero on X/Twitter.

id Software wrote: “Rest in peace to the video game music pioneer Bobby Prince. Your music lives on forever.”