John Romero Celebrates 35 Years of id Software’s History

by Bruno Pferd February 1, 2026

written by Bruno Pferd February 1, 2026

Key Takeaways

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John Romero, creator of Doom, celebrates 35 years in the gaming industry, marking three decades since the establishment of id Software with friends, including John Carmack.
Romeros early influences include Capcom classics like Street Fighter and games developed by Shigeru Miyamoto, which shaped his approach to game design.
Doom, released on December 10, 1993, was a significant milestone in the first-person shooter (FPS) genre, influenced by games like Wolfenstein 3D, Duke Nukem, and Prey.
To commemorate id Softwares anniversary, Romero produced a documentary about Catacomb 3D (1991), the first FPS with texture mapping, considered a pivotal step towards the creation of the genre.

Celebrating Three Decades of Pioneering First-Person Shooters with John Romero

On December 27, 2022, PlayersForLife of Games interviewed John Romero, creator of Doom, as he celebrated the 35th anniversary of id Software. Romero began designing games in 1980, starting his publishing career in 1982 on an Apple II. Inspired by Capcom classics like Street Fighter and Shigeru Miyamoto’s The Legend of Zelda and Mario, Romero spent over a decade working at SoftDisk and creating smaller games before co-founding id Software with friends, including programmer John Carmack. id Software’s Doom, influenced by Wolfenstein 3D (1992), Duke Nukem, and Prey, was released on December 10, 1993. To mark id Software’s anniversary, Romero produced a documentary about Catacomb 3D (1991), the first first-person shooter (FPS) with texture mapping, which he considers a crucial step towards Wolfenstein 3D and the origin of the FPS genre. The full PlayersForLife of Games interview with Romero is available here.

In Case You Missed It

“In case you missed it, we’ve got two thrilling updates from our film and gaming enthusiast Bruno Pferd that you won’t want to skip! First off, in ‘Sylvester Stallone is replaced in the new Rambo film’ (published January 30th), Bruno dives into the exciting news that Noah Centineo will be stepping into Rambo’s iconic boots for a raw and real origin story set in Bangkok, directed by Jalmari Helander. Fans eager to learn more about what shaped our hero before he became the legend we know today should definitely check it out here Sylvester Stallone is replaced in the new Rambo film.. But that’s not all! Bruno also gives us a behind-the-scenes look into the making of ‘John Rambo,’ a prequel film already in production, in his latest post, ‘New Rambo Film Already in Production’ (also published on January 30th). With Noah Centineo taking on the role and Jalmari Helander at the helm, this promises to be a thrilling ride back to where it all began for our iconic hero. You can check that out here too New Rambo Film Already in Production. Meanwhile, in our ongoing quest to keep you updated on the gaming industry’s most promising developments, Bruno’s ‘Clear Darkness: Studio Offers Good News for Sequel’ (published December 30th, 2025) is a must-read. In this insightful article, Sandfall Interactive reveals plans for a sequel to their critically acclaimed game, ‘Clear Darkness Expedition 33,’ staying true to its creative vision and prioritizing authenticity over conventional design. Don’t miss out on this inspiring read – check it out here Clear Darkness: Studio Offers Good News for Sequel!”