Doom Creators John Romero and Sandy Petersen Clash Over Deathmatch Origins on X

The legacy of the 1993 first-person shooter Doom is undisputed, but its history is now under debate—by its own creators. John Romero and Sandy Petersen, both key figures at id Software, are publicly disputing the origins of Doom's revolutionary Deathmatch multiplayer mode on X (formerly Twitter). Their conflicting recollections highlight the often-messy process behind gaming milestones. Romero, a co-founder and co-creator of Doom, and Petersen, a designer of levels and gameplay, have offered differing accounts of how Deathmatch came to be, sparking conversation among fans and historians. The disagreement matters because Deathmatch not only defined Doom's longevity but also laid the groundwork for modern online multiplayer shooters. As the debate unfolds, it underscores how even foundational moments in tech can be remembered differently by those who lived them. For gamers and industry watchers, this is a rare glimpse into the human side of game development history—and a reminder that even legends can disagree on their own story.