One of gaming’s most recognizable composers, Andrew Hulshult, has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to pursue a role on what would eventually become DOOM: The Dark Ages in favor of scoring Markiplier’s upcoming horror film, Iron Lung.

During a recent interview with Luke Lohr on the Expansion Pass, Hulshult reflected on his career working on titles such as DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods, DUSK, Proteus, and the officially released IDKFA soundtrack for DOOM + DOOM II. While discussing his relationship with id Software, he shared that the studio had invited him to submit demo material during the early stages of development on its next DOOM title.

Andrew Hulshult Chose Iron Lung Over Another DOOM Opportunity

According to Hulshult, id Software reached out shortly after the release of DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods, asking him to begin preparing demo material inspired by classic DOOM for its next project.

However, around the same time, longtime collaborator David Szymanski approached him with an entirely different opportunity: scoring Markiplier’s feature-length adaptation of Iron Lung.

Rather than attempting to juggle both projects, Hulshult made the difficult decision to step away from the DOOM opportunity before submitting anything to id Software.

“It was between Iron Lung or do I submit a demo for Doom and go work on Doom? I didn’t want to waste id’s time because I was like, I have to try this film thing because it’s my buddy David Szymanski and it’s Markiplier wanting to do a feature-length horror film. I just have this opportunity in front of me that I don’t think’s ever going to come back up.

Hulshult explained that he wanted to be respectful of id Software’s time, knowing that if he committed to the film, he wouldn’t be able to fully dedicate himself to creating a demo for the studio. He added that everyone at id Software was supportive of his decision, something he greatly appreciated.

DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods Became the Biggest Challenge of His Career

Before that decision, Hulshult had already cemented himself as one of the most recognizable names associated with modern DOOM music. After the release of DOOM Eternal, Chad Mossholder contacted Hulshult about composing music for The Ancient Gods DLC. While accepting the opportunity was an easy decision, the timeline was anything but.

Hulshult revealed that he and fellow composer David Levy were given just 27 to 29 days to write, record, mix, and master an entire DLC soundtrack. All of this during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the compressed schedule, he described the project as the biggest challenge of his career and one he looks back on with immense pride.

The DOOM Community Helped Him Land the Job

Hulshult also credited the DOOM community with helping him receive the opportunity in the first place.

Following the changes surrounding DOOM Eternal‘s music, Hulshult said Marty Stratton, Hugo Martin, and Chad Mossholder all told him that his name consistently surfaced among fans whenever discussions turned toward who should compose future DOOM music.

That overwhelming community support helped pave the way for his involvement in The Ancient Gods, something Hulshult says he’ll always be thankful for.

“Your name came up the most. They really wanted to see you go do this title and step into the shoes.”

For Hulshult, knowing the community supported him before he ever officially joined the project made stepping into such an iconic franchise even more meaningful.

Bethesda, id Software, and ZeniMax granted Hulshult Full Rights to IDKFA

Another surprising revelation from the interview centered on IDKFA, Hulshult’s heavy metal reinterpretation of the classic DOOM soundtrack, which was later officially included with DOOM + DOOM II.

He revealed that Bethesda, id Software, and ZeniMax granted him the full mechanical rights to the album, allowing him to benefit whenever fans stream or purchase the soundtrack directly.

“IDKFA. Bethesda, ZeniMax, and id gave me full mechanical rights on that. So if you stream it, that comes to me… if you buy it on Bandcamp, that comes to me… They gave me full rights for that.”

For fans looking to support Hulshult’s work directly, he encouraged listeners to stream the soundtrack through platforms like Spotify or Apple Music or purchase it through Bandcamp.

More Projects Are Already on the Horizon

Although Hulshult couldn’t reveal every project he’s currently working on, he did tease that fans have plenty to look forward to. He confirmed that the Proteus DLC soundtrack has already been completed. He also revealed that multiple additional projects remain in development. One of those projects, he said, has been in production for roughly three to four years, with the possibility that multiple releases could arrive around the same time.

Beyond upcoming releases, Hulshult also shared several dream projects he’d love to tackle in the future. He named Hitman, Max Payne, and, perhaps most surprisingly, Minecraft as franchises he’d enjoy composing music for. He also mentioned that he expects to meet DOOM co-creator John Romero in person at QuakeCon. Which would bring another chapter of his long connection with the franchise full circle.

Andrew Hulshult’s Next Chapter

Andrew Hulshult’s career continues to expand well beyond the retro shooter genre. This was what first made him a household name among FPS fans. Between composing DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods, bringing IDKFA into an official release with DOOM + DOOM II, scoring Iron Lung, and teasing several major projects still in development, Hulshult remains one of gaming’s busiest and most respected composers.

While fans may wonder what could have been had he pursued DOOM: The Dark Ages. His comments make it clear that choosing Iron Lung was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and one he has no regrets about. Shout out to Luke Lohr for the interview on the Expansion Pass!